“Matthew’s tragic and senseless murder shook the conscience of the American people.”
By Alex Bollinger for LGBTQ Nation –
President Joe Biden issued a statement today to recognize the 25th anniversary of the murder of Matthew Shepard.
“Twenty-five years ago today, Matthew Shepard lost his life to a brutal act of hate and violence that shocked our nation and the world,” Biden said in the statement. “The week prior, Matthew had been viciously attacked in a horrific anti-gay hate crime and left to die – simply for being himself.”
“Matthew’s tragic and senseless murder shook the conscience of the American people. And his courageous parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, turned Matthew’s memory into a movement, galvanizing millions of people to combat the scourge of anti-LGBTQI+ hate and violence in America.”
Shepard was killed in a horrific hate crime due to his sexuality on October 12, 1998 at the age of 21. His murder brought attention to hate crime legislation at both the state and federal levels. President Barack Obama signed into federal law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in October 2009.
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photo: Matthew Shepard was killed in a brutal hate crime in 1998. His parents fought for hate crimes legislation after his death.
Photo: via Wikipedia
