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Matthew Shepard News Articles
(Not Comprehensive)
Mon Oct 12, 1998 - 10:55AM EDT - UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
POSTS STATEMENTS TO WEB
The University of Wyoming has posted new information on their home page regarding Matthew's death.
The information includes: a statement from the Candlelight Vigil for Matthew Shepard, Oct.
11, 1998; Statement by Philip L. Dubois, President, University of Wyoming; Statement by
Jesus Rios, President, Associated Students - University of Wyoming; Statement by James
Osborn, Chair, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered Association, University of Wyoming;
and information regarding the Benefit Fund for Matthew Shepard. I will review this
information shortly and perhaps post some on this site.
(CNN) -- A gay University of Wyoming student who was pistol-whipped and
lashed to a fence post in an attack denounced nationwide as a hate crime died from his
injuries early Monday morning without regaining consciousness.
Matthew Shepard, 21, died while on full life support, Rulon Stacey,
the chief executive officer of Poudre Valley Hospital, told reporters.
Shepard had been in a coma since bicyclists found him tethered to the post in
near-freezing temperatures outside Laramie,
Wyoming, on Wednesday.
Shepard had been in critical condition at the hospital and died at 12:53 a.m. on Monday
with his family at his bedside, Stacey said.
His parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, had flown from Saudi Arabia where the father
works in the oil industry, to be with their son.
In a statement, Shepard's family thanked the hospital for its efforts to save Matthew's
life. "They also reiterated in great detail ... how overwhelmed they are at the
(worldwide) support they have received," Stacey said.
"During the last 24 hours, we've received nearly 2,000 e-mails," he said,
adding that visits to the hospital's Web site had jumped dramatically.
Funeral arrangements were pending. In lieu of flowers, the family asked that donations
be sent to the Matthew Shepard Memorial Fund.
"Matthew's mother said to me, 'please tell everybody who's listening to go home
and give your kids a hug and don't let a day go by without telling them you love
them,'" Stacey said, his voice choked with emotion.
Police have said robbery was the primary motive for the attack. But gay rights groups
and others assailed the beating and called on Wyoming legislators to adopt laws to deter
crimes against homosexuals.
Before Shepard's death, Russell Arthur Henderson, 21, and Aaron James McKinney, 22, had
been charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and aggravated robbery.
Mon Oct 12, 1998 - 10:11AM EDT - MATTHEW HAS DIED
Monday October 12 9:39 AM EDT
Gay Wyoming College Student Dies After Beating
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (Reuters) - A University of Wyoming student savagely
beaten in an apparent hate crime because he was gay died early Monday, a Colorado hospital
said.
Rulon Stacey, chief executive officer of the Poudre Valley Health
System, told reporters Matthew Shepard, 21, died at 12:53 a.m. MDT (2:53 a.m. EDT) Monday.
His family was at his bedside.
Shepard had been breathing with the aid of a ventilator since being
found last Wednesday night beaten and tied for some 18 hours to a wooden fence where he
was left to die just outside Laramie, Wyoming, a small college town.
He suffered a severe skull fracture and was burned in the attack. Police
said the college student begged for his life.
Shepard was found by a passing motorist who at first thought that the
figure on a fence post was a scarecrow.
He died of his injuries rather than being removed from life support by
his parents, Stacey said.
``They did not have to come to a point in the process where they were
forced to make a decision. Life support remained with Matthew throughout the process,''
Stacey said.
``In fact they said (as) the caring son that he was, he was able to
remove from them the guilt or stress of having to make that decision,'' said the hospital
administrator, nearly breaking into tears.
His parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, flew to Colorado from Saudi Arabia
where the father works in the oil industry. Stacey said the parents were overwhelmed by
the outpouring of support for their son.
Two men are in custody for the attack and their girlfriends, who
allegedly provided them an alibi and helped hide bloody clothes, have been charged as
accessories after the fact.
Police following the attack lodged attempted first-degree murder charges
against the two men and said the charges could be upgraded.
The attack on Shepard, who reportedly lived an openly gay life, was
condemned by President Clinton and the governor of Wyoming as well as ordinary citizens
who appeared at vigils in honor of the student.
Police believe robbery as well as gay bashing was a motivation in the
crime.
Bill McKinney, the father of suspect Aaron McKinney, and Kristen Price,
Aaron's girlfriend who was also charged in the case, have said the two men accused of the
attack targeted Shepard because he had flirted with Aaron McKinney at a bar and
embarrassed him, a published report said Sunday.
The attack in Laramie, Wyoming, a small western town with a popular of
26,000, stunned residents and prompted calls for more anti-hate crime legislation.
The hospital had been flooded with flowers and Rulon said messages from
people came from around the world and were in the thousands.
Mon Oct 21, 1998 - 12:43AM EDT - SUSPECT'S FATHER DENIES HATE CRIME
Reuters
reported on Sunday October 11 at 12:14AM that Bill McKinney, the father of murder
suspect Aaron McKinney, denied that the attack on Matthew Shepard was a hate crime,
arguing that Matthew "embarrassed" his son. Doctors are saying that it is
still too early to know if Matthew will recover. McKinney's father say that Shepard
"flirted" with his son at the bar where they met, and that this
"embarrassed" his son. Reuters also reported that Bill McKinney told ABC
News that his son had confessed to the crime and didn't want to live [I watched ABC News
tonight, taped the broadcast, and heard nothing of the sort.] According to Reuters,
"Bill McKinney told the newspaper there was no excuse for what his son is accused of
doing, but said the attack did not warrant national attention." McKinney was
quoted as saying "Had this been a heterosexual these two boys decided to take out and
rob, this never would have made the national news."
Personal commentary from John of Wired Strategies:
It is unclear to me how pistol-whipping, burning, torturing and
then leaving a man to die, tied unconscious, spread-eagle, bleeding with a crushed skull
in 30-degree weather for 12 hours is a normal proportionate reaction to being
"embarrassed," even by, dare I say the word, a homosexual. It is this kind
of "he deserved it" attitude that led to Matthew's savage attack in the first
place, and is a common staple of hate crime cases. As for the father's assertion
that 'had the victim been a heterosexual, the attack would have never made the news,' I
have two responses. First, his boy did not take someone out and "rob"
them, he conducted a savage crucifixion-style lynching which, outside of the McKinney
residence, would in fact likely make national news, even if done to a straight man.
Second, a friend of mine put it best, "had they done this to a heterosexual woman who
had 'embarrassed' them in a bar, they'd be dead by now." But for the grace of
their pulverizing a gay man do they avoid vigilante justice.
Sun Oct 11, 1998 - 11:10PM EDT - ABC INTERVIEWS GIRLFRIEND AND FATHER OF ASSAILANT
ABC's World News Tonight, 6:30PM EDT - paraphrase of the broadcast, with
exact quotes:
Matthew Shepard, 21 years old, remains in critical condition, left for
dead in a field. Two men are under arrest, and their girlfriends have been charged
as accessories. One girlfriend, 18 year old Kristen Price (live-in girlfriend of
accused killer Aaron McKinney) tells the story: "he (McKinney) had blood all over
him". She asked what happened, he replied he "thought maybe he had killed
someone....He said he did not mean to do that to him." According to Price, the
two accused attackers were approached by Shepard in the bar, they were somehow
"offended", and decided to rob him by pretending to be gay. They lured him
to their truck, drove him to a filed, tied him to a fence, and fractured his skull with a
gun. "He said that yeah, had beat him with the butt of the gun," the Price
said, quoting McKinney. "The thought of a gay guy approaching him and
humiliating him....I guess it just set him off." McKinney's father told ABC:
"He's my son, I raised him better than that, or tried to."
ABC then followed with a second story on hate crimes:
Refer to hate crimes legislation, ABC opened the report by saying that
"civil rights groups say these days, gays need that protection more than any other
group." 22 states along with Washington, DC including sexual orientation in
their hate crimes laws. 18 have hate crimes laws that exclude sexual orientation,
and 8 have no hate crimes laws at all, including Wyoming. Winnie Stachelberg with
the Human Rights Campaign told ABC: "We're seeing an increase in hate crimes directed
at the gay and lesbian community, and in fact not just an increase in the sheer numbers,
but the intensity of the violence." The President condemned the attack and
called on lawmakers to pass a federal hate crimes bill. Elizabeth Coleman of the
Anti Defamation League said that: "Individuals who commit hate crimes against gay
people think that what they're doing is expected by society."
Sun Oct 11, 1998 - 11:10PM EDT - CNN REPORTS ON SHEPARD CASE
CNN 5PM EDT Broadcast - Paraphrase of the report, with exact quotes noted:
While condemning the attack, Wyoming's residents defended the state as a
fair place. 21 year old Matthew Shepard was found twelves hours after he was beaten
and tortured so badly, passerbys thought he was a scarecrow. Two suspects have been
charged, and at least one girlfriend is being treated as an accessory. Matthew was
tied with rope, tortured, and then his assailants attempted to kill him with the butt of a
pistol. According to a hospital spokesman, Matthew's skull was fractured from behind
the head to the front of the right ear, compressing his skull into his brain.
Basically, the two guys pretended to be gay, and lured Matthew outside. One Wyoming
resident told CNN that "if you come to Wyoming and you're gay, you're looking for
trouble." Another resident countered: "Wyoming is not a hate crime
state." A third said: "Homophobia is a societal problem and we don't need
to wait until something horrible happens for us to recognize its existence." As
a result of the attack, many have called for tougher hate crimes laws. The family
reports that there has been an overwhelming outpouring of support. [The closing
included footage of a candlelight vigil outside Matthew's hospital] "Outside the
hospital, a vigil -- prayers for a young man, and a life brutalized by hate."
The parents ask that, in lieu of sending flowers, people contribute to
a fund that was set up October 9 in Matthew’s name. Donations can be sent
to:
Fund for the Benefit of Matthew Shepard
c/o First National Bank
P.O. Box 578
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Account No. 1926083.
__________
Matthew’s current medical condition and selected information from
this web site are also recorded on voice mail: (970) 495-7032. We ask that people,
including the media, rely on the web site and the voice mail to track Matthew’s
condition.
Sun Oct 11, 1998 - 1:11AM EDT - MATTHEW'S PARENTS ISSUE STATEMENT
Matthew Shepard Medical Update
Saturday, October 10, 1998
Matthew’s parents arrived at 7 p.m. October 9 and are now at his
bed side. The parents and other family members who are present strongly request no
interviews with the media and they ask that their privacy is respected.
The following statement from the parents was read to members of the
media waiting outside of the hospital at 6 p.m. October 10. The parents chose not to read
the statement, so it was read by Rulon Stacey, president and CEO of Poudre Valley Health
System, at their request.
"First of all, we want to thank the American public for their kind
thoughts about Matthew and their fond wishes for his speedy recovery. We appreciate your
prayers and good will, and we know they are something Matthew would appreciate, too.
"Matthew is a very special person, and everyone can learn
important lessons from his life. All of us who know Matthew see him as he is, a very kind
and gentle soul. He is a strong believer in humanity and human rights. He is a trusting
person who takes everybody at face value and he does not see the bad side of anyone.
"His one intolerance is when people don’t accept others as
they are. He has always strongly felt that all people are the same—regardless of
their sexual preference, race or religion.
"We know he believes that all of us are part of the same family
called Humanity, and each and everyone of us should treat all people with respect and
dignity, and that each of us has the right to live a full and rewarding life. That is one
lesson which we are very certain he would share with you, if he could.
"Matthew also feels strongly about family. He is a loving son,
brother and grandson who has made our own lives much richer and fuller than what we would
have experienced without him.
"Matthew’s life has often been a struggle in one way or
another. He was born prematurely, and he struggled to survive as an infant. He is
physically short in stature but we believe he is a giant when it comes to respecting the
worth of others. We know that he thinks if he can make one person’s life better in
this world, then he has succeeded. That is a measure of success which Matthew has always
pursued.
"Matthew very much enjoys the outdoors and camping, and he has
always loved acting in the theatre—he started acting in community theatre at the age
of 5. Acting and the theatre arts are skills at which Matthew excels.
"He knows he’s not the best athlete in the world but he has a
very competitive spirit. One time he participated in the Wyoming State Games. He had a
respectable finish in a running competition and then he decided to compete in a swimming
event. He did this even though he knew he would likely finish last. Which he did.
Afterwards, he acknowledged to us that he knew his chances of winning were far from good
but he wasn’t going to let that stop him from trying. That’s Matthew’s
lesson for all of us—it’s lesson that we hope everyone takes to heart.
"Matthew has traveled all over the world. He speaks three
languages: English, German and Italian. He loves Europe, but he also loves Laramie and the
University of Wyoming. We feel that, if he was giving this statement himself, he would
emphasize he does not want the horrible actions of a few very disturbed individuals to mar
the fine reputations of Laramie or the university.
"Finally, we would like to thank the sheriff’s department of
Albany County, Wyoming, and Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins for their very
professional efforts on Matthew’s behalf.
"We also have a special request for the members of the media.
Matthew is very much in need of his family at this time, and we ask that you respect our
privacy, as well as Matthew’s so we can concentrate all of our efforts, thoughts and
love on our son.
"Thank you very much."
__________
Approximately two to three dozen calls have come into the hospital from
people in Colorado and around the nation who have extended offers of donations and other
support, such as legal and counseling support. The parents extend their very sincere thank
you for these offers of support.
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - 5:40PM EDT - GREAT STATEMENT FROM HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saturday, October 10, 1998
HRC CONDEMNS WYOMING HATE CRIME AND SAYS RELIGIOUS RIGHT'S ANTI-GAY
RHETORIC CREATES CLIMATE CONDUCIVE TO VIOLENCE
President Clinton Issues Statement Asking The Nation To Pray For
Shepard Family And Urges America To Stand Together Against Violent Bigotry
WASHINGTON -- HRC Education Director Kim I. Mills condemned
the violent attack against Matthew Shepard and called for Congress to renew their efforts
to pass national hate crimes legislation at a press conference today in Ft. Collins,
Colorado. The recent anti-gay political rhetoric by right wing organizations and
members of Congress have created a climate where hate crimes are more likely to occur,
according to the Human Rights Campaign.
"The savage beating and
burning of Matthew Shepard did not occur in a vacuum. Crimes such as these arise out
of minds twisted and misinformed about lesbian and gay people. The leaders of the
most powerful religious political organizations -- some of which have headquarters right
here in Colorado -- have made a strategic, political decision to target gays and
lesbians," said Mills at the press conference.
President Clinton called the
Shepard family today and released a statement denouncing the attack. The Clinton
administration has helped lead the on-going effort to pass federal hate crimes
legislation.
"I was deeply grieved by
the act of violence perpetuated against Matthew Shepard. There is nothing more
important to the future of this country than our standing together against intolerance,
prejudice, and violent bigotry. It is not too late for
Congress to take action before they adjourn and pass the Hate Crimes Prevention Act.
By doing so, they will help make all Americans more safe and secure," said President
Clinton in his statement.
Two men, Russell Arthur
Henderson, 21, and Aaron James McKinney, whose age is unconfirmed, were charged with
kidnaping aggravated robbery, and attempted first degree murder and held on $100,000
bond. University of Wyoming student, Chastity Vera Pasley, 20 and Kristen
Leann Price, 18, were charged as accessories to the crime. Price was released on
$30,000 bond and Pasely is still in jail in lieu of the same amount of money.
There are no hate crimes laws
in Wyoming and efforts to pass a law have been rebuffed repeatedly because critics have
claimed it would give gay Americans "special rights."
"There is nothing special
about living life free of violence and nothing right about opposing laws that would help
remedy this situation. Those who oppose hate crimes legislation are either burying
their heads in the sand or they simply don't care that thousands of gay and lesbian
Americans are being harassed and brutalized each year," said HRC Executive Director
Elizabeth Birch.
On Thursday night,
Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student, was savagely attacked, burned, and
left to die for up to 18 hours tied to a wooden fence outside Laramie, 30 miles northwest
of Cheyenne. When Shepard was found he was unconscious and his skull had been
smashed with a blunt object; he also appeared to have substantial burns on his body and
cuts on his head and face, his family said. Two motorcyclists who found his body
said he looked "like a scarecrow" because of the way he was positioned on the
fence. Shepard is now in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Poudre
Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado where he remains unconscious and hooked up
to a respirator. He had twice been beaten recently and attributed those attacks to
his openness about his sexuality, friends told the Associated Press. Shepard's
family is now with him at the hospital.
In July, both the House and
Senate Judiciary Committees held hearings to amend current federal law to include sexual
orientation, gender and disability and to expand federal law enforcement jurisdiction is
an important step towards closing a loophole needed to assist Americans affected by hate
motivated attacks. But since the hearings, there has been no movement on this legislation.
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), sponsored by Senators Kennedy (D-MA), Specter
(R-PA), and Wyden (D-OR), and Representatives McCollum (R-FL) and Schumer (D-NY), would
amend current federal law to include real or perceived sexual orientation, gender, and
disability. The amendment would enable the FBI to investigate and prosecute violent
hate crimes against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals. Current law already allows
investigation and prosecution only on the basis of race, religion, national origin and
color.
A study released in August by
Dr. Karen Franklin, a forensic psychologist at the Washington Institute for Mental Illness
Research and Training, suggests that harassment and hate crimes against gay students by
their peers is commonplace. According to the study, nearly one-quarter of community
college students who took part in this survey admitted to harassing people they thought
were gay. Among men, 18 percent said they had physically assaulted or threatened
someone they thought was gay or lesbian. And 32 percent admitted they were guilty of
verbal harassment.
Hate
crimes committed against gays, lesbians, and bisexuals make up the third-highest category
of hate crimes reported to the FBI, currently representing 11.6% of all hate crimes
reported. Only 21 states and the District of Columbia include sexual
orientation-based crimes in their hate crimes statutes. While states continue to play the
primary role in the prosecution of hate violence, the federal government must have
jurisdiction to address those limited cases in which local authorities are either unable
or unwilling to investigate and prosecute.
The Human Rights Campaign is
the nation's largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members
throughout the country, effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support, and
educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest, and safe
at home, at work, and in the community.
Statement of Kim I. Mills
Education Director, Human Rights Campaign Oct. 10, 1998
The savage beating and burning of Matthew Shepard
did not occur in a vacuum. Crimes such as these arise out of minds twisted and misinformed
about lesbian and gay people.
Crimes such as these are not isolated --
unfortunately. At the Human Rights Campaign~ we learn weekly, if not daily, of terrible
acts committed against our fellow citizens merely because they are gay -or even because
they are perceived to be gay or lesbian.
Right now, we are living through a period of
extreme and concentrated anti-gay backlash. The leaders of the most powerful religious
political organizations -- some of which have headquarters right here in Colorado -- have
made a strategic political decision to target gays and lesbians. These groups
include Focus on the Family and its political offshoot, the Family Research Council; the
Christian Coalition; Coral Ridge Ministries; and a host of others.
Make no mistake; this campaign against gay people
is not about religion or redemption or any of those other "spiritual" terms they
might use in their advertising or public relations. They are looking for wedge issues that
will help them elect more staunch religious political conservatives at all levels of
government. If this were truly a religious campaign, why did these men and women go to
Capitol Hill last spring and meet with the Republican leaders of the House and Senate? Why
did they threaten our national leaders with a loss of support if they refused to follow
the ultra-conservative religious political agenda?
And they were successful. Shortly after their
meeting on Capitol Hill, Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott went on television to say gay
people are sinners and that we are sick. He likened us to alcoholics, sex addicts and
kleptomaniacs.
Just this week, in Washington, D.C., these same
religious political activist groups unveiled a television advertising campaign purporting
to offer people a way out of homosexuality" through prayer. This comes on the heels
of a national newspaper print advertising campaign with the same message. They have
already spent half a million dollars. We should all fear to learn how much more they are
willing to spend because -- as you in Colorado well know -- their pockets are deep.
The results of campaigns like this are
terrifying. The ultimate victims of their message are people like Matthew Shepard
people who happen to step into the paths of individuals who are swayed by the messages of
such ads and by the climate of intolerance that they are fostering. Wearing the cloak of
"Christian charity," these ads proclaim that lesbians and gays are defective,
that being gay is a bad thing that we can and should change.
Because these messengers are wolves in
"Christian" clothing, some of the people hearing these messages doubtless
believe they are being given a "biblical" dispensation to despise gays and
lesbians. And the distance between that kind of hatred and overt violence is far too
short. Ask the thousands of people who are the targets every year of anti-gay hate crimes.
I would tell you to ask Matthew Shepard, but you cannot.
So why did I come all the way from Washington to
talk to people in Colorado today? Because the terrible news of what happened to Matthew
Shepard is sweeping through a horrified gay community, a gay community already beleaguered
by this period of backlash. I am here to say, "Enough." And I am here to say we
need a federal law to help protect all Americans from hate crimes based on sexual
orientation-- real or perceived.
There is no hate crimes law in Wyoming. And while
I hope the people who tried to kill Matthew Shepard are punished to the full extent of the
law, the law in this case is insufficient. Not only can they not face additional
punishment because this was, in my view, a hate crime, they also face no federal penalty
-- unlike people who commit hate crimes based on race,religion, national origin or
disability.
Hate crimes based on sexual orientation are the
third-highest category of all hate crimes reported to the FBI -- holding steady around 11
percent a year.
There is a bill in Congress now called the Hate
Crimes Prevention Act. It would give the federal government the power to investigate
crimes such as the one committed against Matthew Shepard.Until and unless that passes,
they cannot intervene. We need this law.
Finally, let me close by noting that tomorrow is
National Coming Out Day -- the day when the Human Rights Campaign urges all lesbian and
gay people to be open about ourselves and here is the terrifying story of a young
man who tried to live an openly gay life, only to suffer the most horrific of
consequences. Matthew Shepard tried to live that example, and now he has become an example
of how dangerous it still is to be a lesbian or gay person in America at the turn of this
century. I hope and pray that this example will not drive gay people back into the shadows
-- where the religious right would prefer we live. Rather, he should become a clarion call
to every fair-minded person in this nation to stop this climate of hate, to stamp
out anti-gay bigotry wherever they see it.
Thank you.
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - 3:26PM EDT - PRESIDENT CLINTON ISSUES STATEMENT
"I was deeply grieved by the act of violence perpetrated against
Matthew Shepard of Wyoming.
The Justice Department has assured me that local law enforcement
officials are proceeding diligently to bring those responsible to justice. And I am
determined that we will do everything we can and offer whatever assistance is
appropriate.
Hillary and I ask that your thoughts and your prayers be with Mr.
Shepard and his family, and with the people of Laramie, Wyoming. In the face
of this terrible act of violence, they are joining together to demonstrate that an act of
evil like this is not what our country is all about. In fact it strikes at the very
heart of what it means to be an American and at the values that define us as a Nation. We
must all reaffirm that we will not tolerate this.
Just this year there have been a number of recent tragedies across our
country that involve hate crimes. The vicious murder of James Byrd last June in
Jasper, Texas and the assault this week on Mr. Shepard are only among the most horrifying
examples. Almost one year ago I proposed that Congress enact the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act. Our Federal laws already punish some crimes committed against people on
the basis of race or religion or national origin, but we should do more. This
crucial legislation would strengthen and expand the ability of the Justice Department to
prosecute hate crimes by removing needless jurisdictional requirements for existing crimes
and by giving Federal prosecutors the power to prosecute hate crimes committed because of
the victim's sexual orientation, gender, or disability. All Americans deserve protection
from hate.
There is nothing more important to the future of this country than our
standing together against intolerance, prejudice, and violent bigotry. It is not too
late for Congress to take action before they adjourn and pass The Hate Crimes Prevention
Act. By doing so they will help make all Americans more safe and secure."
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - 3:15PM EDT - HOUSE DEM. LEADER GEPHARDT ISSUES STATEMENT
"My thoughts and prayers today are with Matthew Shepard and his
family. I was sickened to learn of the brutal attack Matthew suffered -- an attack
at the hands of people whose apparent motive was that he is a gay man.
This heinous crime deserves the condemnation of all Americans.
Hate crimes such as this and the June murder of James Byrd in Texas are violent acts
motivated by intolerance and hatred. I trust that those responsible for this
horrendous attack will be prosecuted and punished to the full extent of the law and firmly
believe that we must pass the tough hate crimes legislation pending in the Congress to
help stop these despicable acts."
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - 12:43PM EDT - LOTS OF ARTICLES IN DENVER POST
Today's Denver Post has a slew of articles on the Shepard attack - best to
visit the site and read the articles
first hand.
I include one story that is so good, I had to reprint it:
Gay bashing is a hate crime
By Diane Carman, Denver Post Staff Columnist
Arthur Dong is a gay man who has
experienced more than one beating at the hands of homophobic psychopaths. In 1996, he
decided to fight back. Video camera in hand, Dong entered the belly of the beast.
What he found was even more horrible
than he imagined.
Dong won an award at the Sundance Film
Festival for his 1997 documentary, "Licensed to Kill,'' which features a series of
prison interviews with seven men convicted of murdering gay men.
The movie, which screened in Denver
last year, allows the murderers to tell their own stories. Some of them had come to
realize the severity of their crimes. Some remained unrepentant. Some even recalled their
crimes with pride.
But in many ways the most revealing
aspect of the film is that it illustrates how a culture that ridicules, dehumanizes and
demonizes homosexuals bears shameful responsibility for these crimes.
The verbal taunts and persecution of
people because of their sexual orientation are so commonplace they set the stage for
murderers who think it's no crime to hate gays and to act on that hate.
In our culture, the victim of gay
bashing is considered the sinner. That's why so often the crimes against homosexuals go
unpunished until someone is found beaten, burned and tied to a fence post outside of
town.
The attack this week on Matthew
Shepard, the 21-year-old gay University of Wyoming student, is unusual only in its level
of savagery. Since hate crimes laws in Colorado and 28 other states do not cover crimes
against homosexuals, vast numbers of these crimes go unreported. Still, FBI data indicate
that 11.6 percent of all hate crimes nationally target gays. It's the third largest
category of hate crimes reported to the bureau.
In June, when the story of the vicious
racially inspired murder of James Byrd Jr. of Jasper, Texas, was reported, it horrified
Americans. Attorney General Janet Reno called for an investigation to see if federal civil
rights laws had been violated. The U.S. House of Representatives voted unanimously to send
"heartfelt condolences'' to Byrd's family.
There was no argument about what
constitutes a hate crime, only collective shame and grief.
That same level of compassion does not
exist for the Shepard family. Once again, there will be a chorus screaming "special
rights'' when the subject of gay bashing being punished as a hate crime arises. But near
as anybody can tell, the opportunity to be threatened, humiliated and to live in fear of
being beaten to death is the only "special right'' our culture bestows on
homosexuals.
If you listened to the opponents of
laws designating gay bashing as a hate crime, you'd think there really was some
fundamental difference between being a black man, who is beaten and dragged behind a
truck, and being a gay man, who is beaten, his skull crushed, and left tied to a fence to
die.
The only real difference is the
epithet the killers use to describe the victim.
The one used for the black man is
considered an obscenity so appallingly offensive, it can't be printed in most
newspapers.
The one used for the gay man is a
common expression. It's familiar in comedy routines, on elementary school playgrounds and
on street corners all across America.
Diane Carman's commentaries appear
here Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
E-mail: dicarman@aol.com
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - NEW YORK TIMES ON SHEPARD CASE
Nothing really new in this piece from the New York Times.
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - 7:12AM EDT - SHEPARD'S CONDITION UPDATES ONLINE
Matthew Shepard Condition Update
Poudre Valley Health System
Fort Collins, Colorado
http://www.pvhs.org/new/index.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 7, 1998
Matthew Shepard, 21, was transported to Poudre Valley Hospital from
Invinson Hospital in Laramie, Wyoming. He arrived on 10/7/98 at approximately 9:15 p.m..
When he arrived he was unresponsive and breathing support was being provided. Matthew
Shepard was admitted to the surgical-neuro intensive care unit at Poudre Valley
Hospital.
October 8, 1998 Noon
Matthew Shepard remains in critical condition with severe head injuries.
Respiratory support continues to be provided. He remains on a ventilator.
The family requests no interviews with the media, and asks that you
respect their privacy.
Calls have come into the hospital from people who have extended offers of
donations and support. The hospital will pass this information on to the family. The
support is greatly appreciated.
The next medical update will be at 3 p.m. in the circle drive on the west
side of the hospital.
October 9 -- 3 p.m. Update
There is no status change. The next medical condition update will be
posted to the web site at 9 p.m. tonight and simultaneously on the voice mail listed
below. This website will be updated immediately if the patient's condition changes.
We will also immediately inform the wire services.
October 9 -- 9 p.m. Update
This medical update is given by Rulon Stacey, President/CEO of Poudre
Valley Hospital.
There is no change in Matthew Shepard’s status since our 3 p.m.
update today.
Matthew came to us from Ivinson Hospital in Laramie by way of
ambulance. He arrived on 10/7/98 at approximately 9:15 p.m.. When he arrived, he was
unresponsive and breathing support was being provided. He was admitted to the
surgical-neuro intensive care unit where he remains in critical condition with severe head
injuries. Respiratory support continues to be provided. He remains on a ventilator.
Matthew’s parents arrived this evening and are now at his bed side. The parents and
other family members who are present strongly request no interviews with the media and
they ask that their privacy is respected.
About a dozen calls have come into the hospital from people in Colorado
and around the nation who have extended offers of donations and support. The parents
extend their very sincere thank you for this support and the kind best wishes of people.
The parents ask that in lieu of sending flowers people contribute to a fund that was set
up today in Matthew’s name. Donations can be sent to:
Fund for the Benefit of Matthew Shepard
c/o First National Bank
P.O. Box 578
Fort Collins, CO 80522
Account No. 1926083
The next medical condition update will be at 9 a.m. Saturday. In
addition, updates will be kept current throughout tonight and posted on this web site. The
condition is also provided on voice mail: (970) 495-7032. We ask that people, including
the media, rely on these two services if you need to track Matthew’s condition
throughout the night.
Note: A special voice mail telephone line has been set-up for condition
updates. The voice mail will provide the same information listed here. The number is (970)
495-7032.
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - SHEPARD BEGGED FOR HIS LIFE
New in this Associated Press story:
* The two men who beat and tortured a gay University of Wyoming student
ignored his pleas that they spare his life, leaving him tied to a ranch fence, unconscious
and barely breathing, investigators said Friday. "During the incident the
victim was begging for his life," said Albany
County Judge Robert A. Castor, reading an arrest affadavit.
* Shepard's family and friends hoped the brutal attack on Shepard would
galvanize the state into passing a hate crime law.
* "It seems pretty obvious from the court proceedings that he
was beaten and robbed because he was gay," said Terry Summers, a friend who is the
executive director of the Fort Collins-based gay support group LAMBDA. "It's sad to
say, that Wyoming has no hate crime laws."
* Officials said Shepard was pistol-whipped with a .357 Magnum, which was
later
recovered.
* Several national gay and lesbian groups denounced the attack and said
Wyoming's failure to adopt a law against hate crimes may have led the perpetrators to
believe such acts might not be aggressively prosecuted. They also said a national campaign
by conservative religious organizations targeting gays has made their lives more
precarious.
* Wyoming Gov. Jim Geringer said, "I am outraged and sickened by what
appears to be a very heinous crime committed on Matthew Shepard." Geringer said
"hate crime legislation is needed ...." as well as tougher sentences for violent
offenders.
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - 2:40AM EDT - NGLTF ISSUES STATEMENT
NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE
Contact:
Tracey Conaty, Communications Director
202-332-6483 ext. 3303
800-757-6476 pager
tconaty@ngltf.org
http://www.ngltf.org
2320 17th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
***********************************************
TASK FORCE CONDEMNS SAVAGE BASHING;
CHARGES RIGHT WING WITH INCREASE IN ANTI-GAY RHETORIC
WASHINGTON, DC---October 9, 1998--- The National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force condemned Tuesdayšs gay bashing in Laramie, Wyoming where a student was severely
burned, beaten, and left to die. The Task Force linked the violence to an increased
climate of anti-gay hostility and political attacks in nearby Fort Collins, the Wyoming
legislature, and in the US Congress.
"Anti-gay rhetoric and anti-gay violence go hand-in-hand,"
said Tracey Conaty, NGLTF communications director. "The right wing is creating the
most hostile atmospheres for GLBT people in recent memory. Hate violence is a
logical extension of these rhetorical, legislative, and electoral attacks, " she
added.
Matthew Shepard, a 22-year-old political science student at the
University of Wyoming, was found tied to a fence the day after having been left to die by
his assailants. He had burns on his entire body and had been beaten so severely with a
blunt object that his skull was crushed. He is on a respirator at a nearby hospital in
Fort Collins, CO. Shepard had been beaten recently and attributed the attack to his
sexual orientation. In that attack, he suffered a broken jaw.
The Task Force charges that right wing groups have fostered a climate
conducive to such violence. This week in Fort Collins, Citizens for Constitutional
Freedom, a right-wing opposition group ran a series of ads denouncing the measures and
urging voters not to support "special rights" for homosexuals. A similar
organization sponsored a forum with an "ex-gay" Spokesperson, which claimed
sexual orientation can be changed, and therefore does not deserve inclusion in Fort
Collinsš Human Rights Ordinance.
Right wing forces in Wyoming have stymied passage of a hate crimes bill
claiming it would give "special rights" to GLBT people. Nationally, right-wing
organizations have hypocritically portrayed their anti-gay efforts as "compassionate
and loving." In June, Senate majority leader Trent Lott compared homosexuality to
kleptomania and sex addiction. Recent anti-gay measures in Congress were introduced while
right-wing groups launched a major advertising campaign to "change" GLBT
people. Just yesterday, these groups announced a series of TV ads seeking to
"reject homosexuality and go on to live healthy normal lives."
The Task Force has documented a link between increases in anti-gay
violence and the escalation of anti-gay rhetoric during ballot initiative campaigns.
Immediately before Coloradošs Amendment 2 passed in 1992, Colorado activists documented a
129 percent increase in anti-gay assaults. In the two months following the vote, nearly 40
percent of the annual total was reported. Hattie Mae Cohen, a lesbian, and Brian Mock, a
gay man, were killed when their home in Oregon was firebombed during that statešs 1992
ballot battle. In Maine in 1995, incidents of anti-gay violence jumped to 10 during the
six months of an anti-gay initiative campaign in 1995, compared to four incidents for the
entire previous year.
"When anti-gay rhetoric escalates, so does anti-gay violence. Hate
crimes are a result of that intolerance," continued Conaty. "No one should
condone violence against any group of people, nor should they contribute to an atmosphere
that fosters such intolerance and violence."
A bill languishing in Congress, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, would
make hate violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people and other
minorities a federal crime. The Task Force urges Congress to swiftly pass this measure.
________________________________________
Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to
eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social
justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that
respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people
may fully participate in society.
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - 2:39AM EDT - GLAAD ISSUES STATEMENT
GLAAD MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Jennifer Einhorn, Director of Communications
phone: (212) 807-1700 x14
e-mail: einhorn@glaad.org
pager: (888) 656-9045
Jeffrey Montgomery, NCAVP Steering Committee
phone: (313) 537-3323
e-mail: trijeffm@aol.com
GLAAD AND NATIONAL COALITION OF ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAMS EXPRESS SORROW
AND HORROR AT ATTACK ON GAY MAN IN WYOMING
_______________________________________________________________
"Hateful rhetoric fosters a fearful and intolerant
environment--all the ingredients necessary for putting people in harms way. What Matt
Shepard is going through is unthinkable. That there are people who hate him for
being open and honest about his life is unconscionable."
-Joan M. Garry, GLAAD Executive Director
_______________________________________________________________
NEW YORK, NY, THURSDAY, 9 OCTOBER, 1998 -- The Gay & Lesbian
Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) and the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs
(NCAVP) today expressed their sorrow at the attempted murder of 22-year-old University of
Wyoming student Matt Shepard, who was found on Wednesday night in Laramie near death and
tied to a fence, after having been beaten, burned and slashed. Mr. Shepard, a junior
studying political science at the university, had been attacked twice previously in recent
weeks, once having his jaw broken.
The report of the Wyoming attack comes one day after the Center for
Reclaiming America and Coral Ridge Ministries held a joint press conference with the
Family Research Council to announce a new series of anti-gay television advertisements, in
the same vein as their previous campaign, which was placed in major newspapers this
summer.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs condemned the attack
as well. "We at NCAVP are all too familiar with the increasing violence facing the
lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender community, and the increasingly vicious nature of
these crimes," said NCAVP Steering Committee member Jeffrey Montgomery. "What
happened to Matt Shepard may shock and horrify you, but something like it happens on a day
to day basis in this country. What's worse, Wyoming has no hate crimes bill to protect
victims and prosecute those who target them, because radical religious groups insisted it
would extend 'special rights' to lesbians and gay men, who have become less than equal in
their eyes. Is it a 'special right' to not be beaten into a coma because of who you are?
Ask the victims of the thousands of anti-gay hate crimes...they're the ones who
know."
GLAAD Executive Director, Joan M. Garry continued, "We invite
those who are so obsessed with the lives of lesbians and gay men to examine the tone and
tenor of their remarks well before they issue them. Think of who will hear their words.
Think of who will see these indelible images. If you think homophobic advertisements like
those which ran in our newspapers this summer are devoid of repercussions--think
again. These ads give people permission to hate. They are inciteful vehicles.
They have a real impact on real people's lives."
GLAAD is the nation's lesbian and gay media advocacy organization.
GLAAD promotes fair, accurate and inclusive representation of individuals and events in
all media as a means of combating homophobia and all forms of discrimination based on
sexual orientation or identity.
The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) addresses the
pervasive problem of violence committed against and within the lesbian, gay, bisexual,
transgender and HIV-positive (LGBTH) communities. NCAVP is a coalition of programs that
document and advocate for victims of anti-LGBTH violence/harassment, domestic violence,
sexual assault, police Misconduct, and other forms of victimization. NCAVP is dedicated to
creating a national response to the violence plaguing these communities. Furthermore,
NCAVP supports existing anti-violence organizations and emerging local programs in the
efforts to document and prevent such violence.
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - 2:38AM EDT - ANTI-GAY HATE SPEECH AT MICHIGAN STATE
On Wednesday, the Alliance of Lesbian-Bi-Gay and Transgendered Students
painted the rock [a local landmark] in honor of National Coming Out Days, a celebration of
lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. They woke Thursday morning to see the the
rock had been repainted with anti-gay slurs. The front of the rock
read “no packing zone.” Other slurs on the rock and garbage can next to it read
“I kill fags,” “Kill flames,” and “Fags.”
Sat Oct 10, 1998 - 1:29 AM EDT - SUMMARY OF NEWS STORIES TO DATE
WIRED STRATEGIES
Special Report: Gay Wyoming student clings to life
Saturday, October 10, 1998
1:30 a.m. EDT
The University of Wyoming student paper, the Branding Iron, has
published on its Web site a series of nine stories, and numerous photos, dealing with the attack on
Matthew Shepard. In addition the Washington
Post Web site published a front page story on the case at
midnight. And a new Associated Press story was issued at 9:37PM EDT, Oct 9.
Details from all 11 stories have been compiled in the following brief update.
A Brief Update - Summary of Recent Branding Iron, Washington Post,
and Associated Press Articles
At last report, Matthew Shepard remained in a coma, in critical
condition, in Colorado - according to the hospital, he is on a ventilator.
"They're not expecting him to ever wake up," friends say. His parents
are to arrive this evening from Saudi Arabia.
His four accused attackers (two men), and accomplices (two women), were
arraigned Friday in court, and remain in police custody. According to reports, the
two males befriended Shepard in a bar, told him they were gay, and lured him into their
pick-up truck. Shepard was subsequently attacked in the truck, then dragged to a
field where he was tied to a fence post spread-eagle, beaten and burned, then left to
die. According to court documents, Shepard was "struck in the head with a
pistol," and the suspects allegedly "beat him, while he begged for his
life." According to one report, Shepard received a 2-inch deep gash in his
head, crushing his skull. The temperature had dropped into the low 30s during the
more than 12 hours Shepard was left outside. The males then met up with the two
female accomplices, who helped them dispose of their now-bloody clothing.
Anti-gay epithets were reportedly used by the two young men who are
accused of committing the crime, and friends say the attack was clearly an anti-gay hate
crime. Efforts to pass hate-crime legislation in Wyoming have failed repeatedly
because critics have said it would give gays "special rights." The
conservative Family Research Council (FRC) -- which joined other religious right groups in
announcing on Thursday a new round of anti-gay "ex-homosexual" TV ads --
released a statement Friday on Shepard's attack, echoing the arguments of previous hate
crimes opponents. FRC said in their statement that "'Hate crimes' laws skew the
legal system and afford unequal protection by design" and that such laws create a
"special status." In contrast, Wyoming's Republican Governor, Jim
Geringer, said he was "outraged and sickened" by the crime, and that the state
needs to enact hate crime legislation.
"He's a small person with a big heart, mind and soul that someone
tried to beat out of him," said Matthew Shepard's uncle, R.W. Eaton. "Right now,
he's in God's hands."
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 9:18PM EDT - SEND A CARD TO MATTHEW
Courtesy of the Fenceberrys:
If you would like to send a card to Matthew Shepard and wish him a full
and speedy recovery after his terrible ordeal, you can mail it to:
Matthew Shepard
C/O Poudre Valley Hospital
1024 S Lemay Av FORT COLLINS CO 80524
The phone number for the hospital is (970) 495-7000
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 6:10PM EDT - FAMILY RESEARCH COUNCIL OPPOSES HATE CRIME LAWS
WASHINGTON, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Family Research Council today denounced
an attack on a homosexual student in Wyoming. "Although the motivation for the
attack is not confirmed at this time, violently attacking a person is unconscionable,
whatever the reason," said Robert H. Knight, Director of Cultural Studies at Family
Research Council. "It is indicative of a culture that has become inured to
violence and has lost respect for the human person."
The Associated Press reported that Matthew Shepard, a 22-year-old
political science major at the University of Wyoming, was bludgeoned in the head with a
"blunt object," burned and tied to a wooden fence outside the city of Laramie.
"Whoever committed this crime should be prosecuted to the full
extent of the law," said Knight, who cautioned that some are already exploiting this
tragedy to advance the cause of so-called "hate crimes" legislation, which
creates attitudinal crimes and a special status for certain victims. "Every
crime is a 'hate' crime. Brutalizing a person is a reprehensible act, regardless of
the motivation or the group affiliation of the victim.
"All citizens deserve equal protection under the law. 'Hate
crimes' laws skew the legal system and afford unequal protection by design. This
young man, no less than anyone else, should be protected, and his attackers should feel
the full force of the law," stressed Knight. "The law should deal strictly
with facts and acts. Justice dictates that violence be punished, and that the
perpetrators be held fully accountable," Knight concluded."
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 5:41PM EDT - WYOMING NICKNAME IS "EQUALITY STATE"
Ironically, the Wyoming state motto is: "Equal Rights", and the
official state nickname is "the Equality State". You can confirm this at:
<http://www.state.wy.us/state/wyoming_news/general/general.html>.
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 5:15PM EDT - SHEPARD'S SKULL SMASHED WITH HANDGUN
New in this story from the Associated Press:
* When he was found, Shepard was unconscious, and his skull had been
smashed with a handgun.
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 3:45PM EDT - SHEPARD CHOSEN IN PART BECAUSE HE WAS GAY
New in this story from the Associated Press:
* Police Cmdr. Dave O'Malley said that robbery was the chief motive but
that the victim was chosen in part because he is gay.
* The temperature had dropped into the low 30s during the more than 12
hours Shepard was left outside.
* O'Malley, a 25-year veteran of the police force, said there had been a
few hate crimes over the years, ``but nothing anywhere near this.''
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 3:45PM EDT - SCHOOL PAPER ADDS DETAILS
New in this story from the University of Wyoming paper, the "Branding
Iron":
* Shepard, who suffered severe head trauma, was unconscious upon discovery
and was still unconscious at press time.
* "They're not expecting him to ever wake up," Walter Boulden, a
friend of the victim, said.
* An alleged aggravated assault which occurred approximately at 1 a.m.
Oct. 7 in the vicinity of 7th and Harney led officers to the suspects, Puls said.
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 2:28PM EDT - FRIENDS SAY CLEARLY A HATE CRIME
New in this story from the Associated Press:
* Walter Boulden, a friend of the victim's, said he believes the crime was
clearly motivated by hate. ``There is no maybe,'' he told the Branding Iron, the campus
paper.
* `It's really hard to be gay and live in Wyoming because of the
good-ol'-boy network,'' said another student, Kete Blonigen.
* ``It's such a conservative state,'' said Kete Blonigen, a local student.
``I'm almost afraid and expecting someone to say, `He was gay. What does it matter?' I can
totally see that happening. I'm disgusted by this whole thing.''
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 1:03PM EDT - LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY ROBBERY WAS MOTIVE, BUT SEXUAL
ORIENTATION PLAYED A ROLE
Nando Times published a story, based in part on an Associated Press
report, that robberty appears to be the motive behind the savage attack on Matthew
Shepard. New information in this story:
* A University of Wyoming student and three other people were arrested
Thursday in connection with the beating and were scheduled to be in court Friday. A
new name was added to the arrestees, Aaron McKinney -- , whose age was not immediately
available, and who was expected to be charged with attempted first-degree murder,
kidnapping and robbery.
* Shepard apparently drove off in McKinney's truck with the two men. The
two beat Shepard in
the truck, then continued to beat him after tying him up to the fence
outside Laramie. They took his wallet and shoes and left him. Later, the two young
women helped them get rid of their bloody clothing.
* The two men made anti-gay statements to the two women, who told police
about them.
* The Denver Post reports that one local resident "wasn't shocked to
hear a gay man had been beaten so
severely." She said: "Here in the rural West, such
intolerance still is not that unusual."
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 10:26AM EDT - HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN ISSUES STATEMENT
"APPARENT HATE CRIME AGAINST GAY STUDENT IN WYOMING HIGHLIGHTS THE
NEED FOR CONGRESS TO PASS THE HATE CRIMES PREVENTION ACT
Brutality Continues While Congress Lets Bill Languish, According To HRC
WASHINGTON -- A gay University of Wyoming student was savagely attacked
Thursday night, burned, and left to die for up to 18 hours tied to a wooden fence outside
Laramie, 30 miles northwest of Cheyenne. The assault on Matthew Shepard, 21, by
fellow students underscores the need for Congress to move forward and pass pending hate
crimes legislation, according HRC.
"We are outraged and
sickened by this attack performed by a group of cowards. How long does the brutality
have to go on until Congress sends the message that this type of behavior is unacceptable
and will not be tolerated in our society? It is time to pass the Hate Crimes
Prevention Act," said HRC Political Director Winnie Stachelberg.
When Shepard was found he
was unconscious and his skull had been smashed with a blunt object; he also appeared to
have substantial burns on his body and cuts on his head and face, his family said.
Two motorcyclists who found his body said he looked "like a
scarecrow" because of the way he was positioned on the fence. Shepard is now in
critical condition in the intensive care unit at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado where he remains unconscious and hooked up to a
respirator. He had twice been beaten recently and attributed those attacks to his
openness about his sexuality, friends told the Associated Press.
Three University of Wyoming
students were arrested Thursday in connection with the attack. Authorities say
they expect more arrests. There are no hate crimes laws in Wyoming and efforts
to pass a law have been rebuffed repeatedly because critics have claimed it would give gay
Americans "special rights."
"There is nothing
special about living life free of violence and nothing right about opposing laws that
would help remedy this situation. Those who oppose hate crimes legislation are
either burying their heads in the sand or they simply don't care that thousands of gay and
lesbian Americans are being harassed and brutalized each year," said HRC Executive
Director Elizabeth Birch.
In July, both the House and
Senate Judiciary Committees held hearings to amend current federal law to include sexual
orientation, gender and disability and to expand federal law enforcement jurisdiction is
an important step towards closing a loophole needed to assist Americans affected by hate
motivated attacks. But since the hearings, there has been no movement on this legislation.
The Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA), sponsored by Senators Kennedy (D-MA), Specter
(R-PA), and Wyden (D-OR), and Representatives McCollum (R-FL) and Schumer (D-NY), would
amend current federal law to include real or perceived sexual orientation, gender, and
disability. The amendment would enable the FBI to investigate
and prosecute violent hate crimes against gays, lesbians, and
bisexuals. Current law already allows investigation and prosecution only on
the basis of race, religion, national origin and color.
A study released in August
by Dr. Karen Franklin, a forensic psychologist at the Washington Institute for Mental
Illness Research and Training, suggests that harassment and hate crimes against gay
students by their peers is commonplace. According to the study, nearly one-quarter
of community college students who took part in this survey admitted to harassing people
they thought were gay. Among men, 18 percent said they had physically assaulted or
threatened someone they thought was gay or lesbian. And 32 percent admitted they
were guilty of verbal harassment.
Hate crimes committed against
gays, lesbians, and bisexuals make up the third-highest category of hate crimes reported
to the FBI, currently representing 11.6% of all hate crimes reported. Only 21 states
and the District of Columbia include sexual orientation-based crimes in their hate crimes
statutes. While states continue to play the primary role in the prosecution of hate
violence, the federal government must have
jurisdiction to address those limited cases in which local authorities are
either unable or unwilling to investigate and prosecute.
The Human Rights Campaign is
the nation's largest national lesbian and gay political organization, with members
throughout the country, effectively lobbies Congress, provides campaign support, and
educates the public to ensure that lesbian and gay Americans can be open, honest, and safe
at home, at work, and in the community.
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 10:25AM EDT - DENVER POST REPORTS ON SHEPARD ATTACK
New details revealed in this story:
* Shepard dedicated his life to the fight for human rights.
* He remained tied up to the wooden fence for 18 hours before he was
found.
* Shepard almost died of blood loss before passers-by discovered him.
* Shepard had been beaten up twice in the recent past - his jaw was broken
last summer - and he attributed those attacks to his open homosexuality, friends said.
* "He's a small person with a big heart, mind and soul that someone
tried to beat out of him,'' Eaton [his uncle] said. "Right now, he's in God's
hands.''
* His aunt and uncle described Shepard's appearance as horrifying, with
wounds concentrated on his head and face. The most severe blow was inflicted with a weapon
akin to a rifle butt or baseball bat and probably caused irreparable brain damage, Eaton
said. "He looks like hell,'' Rose said. "I can't explain it. I don't know
how to explain it. He is hanging onto life by a thread.'' Said Eaton: "It's
like something you might see in war.''
* The trio awaiting arraignment today are: Russel Arthur Henderson, 21, of
3443 Fort Sanders Drive, arrested for investigation of attempted first-degree murder;
Chastity Vera Pasley, 20, of the same address, arrested for investigation as an accessory
to the crime; Kristin Leann Price, 18, of 751 N. Fourth St., arrested for investigation as
an accessory.
* Shepard spent some of his time growing up in Casper. His father and
mother, Dennis and Judy Shepard, live in Saudi Arabia, where the elder Shepard works as an
oil rig safety inspector. The parents were en route to Fort Collins, Eaton
said. Due to his father's overseas work, Matthew Shepard traveled extensively during
his school years, studying at boarding schools in Switzerland and elsewhere in
Europe. During the past several years, he lived in Denver, where he worked as a
waiter and retail clerk. He moved to Laramie last spring to enter college as a
freshman, his aunt and uncle said. He had wanted to attend the University of Wyoming
because it was his father's alma mater, they said.
* He enjoyed spirited political debate and wanted to work as a
human-rights advocate on behalf of the impoverished and downtrodden, friends said.
* Friends say the attack on Shepard shows the need to pass hate crimes
legislation in Wyoming. Efforts to pass hate-crime legislation in Wyoming have
failed repeatedly because critics have said it would give homosexuals special rights, said
Marv Johnson, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union in Wyoming.
Fri Oct 9, 1998 - 6:38AM EDT - ASSOCIATED PRESS BREAKS SHEPARD STORY NATIONALLY
Within one day of militant fumdamentalists holding a press conference in
Washington, DC promoting the "ex-gay" agenda, the Associated Press
reported that a gay student at the University of Wyoming was savagely beaten, burned and
left to die, tied to a wooden fence outside Laramie Wyoming, 30 miles northwest of
Cheyenne. Passersby discovered the bloody and unconscious body of Matthew Shepard, a
22-year-old political science major, a mile northeast of Laramie on Wednesday
evening. His skull had been smashed with a blunt object. Shepard was in
critical condition and on a respirator at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins. He
was last heard from Tuesday evening when he called friends from a bar.
Three University of Wyoming students were arrested Thursday in
connection with the beating and were scheduled to be in court today. Shepard's body
was found by two motorcyclists who at first thought he was a scarecrow because of the way
he was positioned on the fence. Police were investigating whether the brutal beating
was motivated by Shepard's sexual orientation. He had twice been beaten recently and
attributed those attacks to his open homosexuality, friends said.
Thu Oct 8, 1998 - FOCUS ON THE FAMILY RE: 'NATIONAL COMING OUT OF HOMOSEXUALITY DAY'
"COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Oct. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Focus on the Family
staffer and former homosexual, John Paulk, will mark `National Coming Out of Homosexuality
Day' by participating in a press conference this morning at the National Press Club.
Mr. Paulk works as a Homosexuality and Gender Analyst for Focus on the Family and serves,
along with his wife, Anne, as a national spokesperson for the ex-gay movement.
"It's an honor to be a role model for those struggling to leave
homosexuality behind," says Paulk. "My wife and I, and thousands of
others, serve as living proof that change is possible. By taking a bold stand
against the lies that say homosexuality is biological and unchangeable, we hope to
encourage others desperate to escape homosexuality.
"The gay activist agenda, which includes `National Coming Out
Day,' is promoted heavily by Hollywood and the media. Focus on the Family believes
that `National Coming Out of Homosexuality Day' is crucial in order to provide the
American public with the other side of the issue.
"Primarily, our concern centers on the destructive messages being
sent to today's youth. Millions of young people struggling with a variety of issues
are being encouraged to `come out' as a solution to their problems. Our goal is to
point teens, their parents and teachers in another direction -- that of an achievable,
healthy, normal heterosexual identity," says Paulk.
Focus on the Family is committed to helping families sort through the
facts and fiction surrounding youth and homosexuality. Beginning next month, Focus
will host conferences nationwide that will address the promotion of homosexuality within
the public school setting.
"We believe that a young person struggling with homosexual
tendencies should also be informed of healthy alternatives to homosexuality," says
Paulk. "It is irresponsible for educators to steer that person into a potentially
dangerous and lonely lifestyle. Through our conferences, we hope to equip and
educate all those concerned about the influence of homosexuality on kids."
John and Anne Paulk recently participated in a national ad campaign
featuring ex-gays. The firestorm that ensued landed the couple on the cover of
Newsweek magazine, as well as in stories run on ABC World News Tonight, U.S. News
and World Report, Time, Los Angeles Times, USA TODAY, and many others.
Check out Focus on the Family's new college website at
www.boundless.org. Articles this week explore `National Coming Out of Homosexuality
Day.'"
Wed Oct 7, 1998 -FUNDAMENTALISTS ANOUNCE "EX-GAY" PRESS CONFERENCE
"The CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA offers further hope for change to
those struggling in the homosexual lifestyle as it unveils the next phase of its
"Truth In Love" campaign at its press conference at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, October
8, 1998 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
With the release of two television commercials produced by the CENTER,
the campaign has expanded its outreach, which began with full-page ads in major newspapers
nationwide (including The New York Times, USA TODAY, the Washington Post, and The Wall
Street Journal). Eighteen major pro-family organizations joined together to respond to the
hostility and name-calling aimed at Senator Trent Lott and football player Reggie White,
and others, when they simply stated the biblical position that homosexuality is a
sin.
The TV spots are designed to address the homosexual issue honestly and
lovingly. One of the 60-second formats will feature several former homosexuals who are now
happily married and enjoying new lives with their children. Tom Cole, a former homosexual,
said, "The dream that I thought I could never have -- a wife and children -- has come
true." The ad clearly demonstrates that many have left the lifestyle; in fact,
thousands have done so.
Another commercial is designed to appeal to the parents of those
struggling in homosexuality. One mother, Frances Johnston, who never stopped loving her
son, said, "Just because you love your children, doesn't mean you love everything
they do." She refused to embrace a lifestyle that she understood to be immoral and
destructive. Her son, Michael Johnston, appears with her in the commercial, thanking her
for her persevering love and her unyielding principles.
Janet Folger, national director for the CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA,
said, "Each of these ads will emphasize the Christian approach of offering
compassionate love without compromising the truth." Dr. D. James Kennedy, Senior
Minister at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, and founder of the CENTER, said, "It's
not about hate; it's about hope." This tag line appears prominently in each of the
ads.
In addition, Michael Johnston, founder and president of Kerusso
Ministries, will participate in the press conference, to discuss the National Coming Out
of Homosexuality Day, October 11. Mr. Johnston began this event four years ago to
encourage those struggling in the lifestyle to seek the deliverance that is possible
through the power of Jesus Christ.
Other representatives from the pro-family groups that comprise the
"Truth In Love" campaign will also be in attendance.
For more information and interviews, call Carol Krpata, 954-351-3353,
ext. 622.
The CENTER FOR RECLAIMING AMERICA, formed by Dr. D. James Kennedy, is
an outreach of Coral Ridge Ministries to inform the American public and motivate people of
faith to defend and implement the biblical principles on which our country was founded.
With members in 50 states, the CENTER provides non- partisan, interdenominational
information, training, and support to all those interested in impacting the culture and
renewing the vision set forth by our Founding Fathers."
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