Matthew+Shepard


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=Matthew Shepard= ===Matthew Shepard has incredibly effected gay rights, the way homosexuals are treated, and laws that go along with that. Matthew is a legacy to many. Most people are aware of him and the terrible tragedy that occurred to him simply because he was a homosexual. For a very long time it was all over the media, news and many were talking about it, and still are today. The brutal and awful beating that ended his life just because of his sexual orientation brought up many issues and questions about the need of for the need for an anti-hate crime legislation.===

=== Matthew Wayne Shepard, was born December 1st, 1976. He was the oldest son of his parents, Judy Peck Shepard and Dennis Shepard. A 21 year-old student. Before he was killed, He was a first- year political science major at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.=== ===It was on October 7th, when Matthew left a campus bar a little after midnight following two men because they told him they were also homosexuals. They drove him to a quite area, east of laramie and this is where he was brutally beaten. They tied him to a rail fence, tortured, beat in every way possible and had assault weapons on hand. Then he was left there in the freezing temperatures. He was found 18 hours after the attack. Much of his face was bloody except parts that had been washed with tears. He died Monday 12th October 1998 a few minutes just before one in the morning at the Pourdre Valley Hospital in Colorado. Most of his face severely injured including massive injuries to his brain affecting much of his body. He never regained consciousness after he was found and was on full life support till he died.===

===An incredibly ignorant and obscene joke just a few miles away was played by teenage guys. They were saying that “they were just having fun." A group of students from Colorado state University decided to ride on float that had a scarecrow figure that was suppose to be Matthew's harmed body wearing a sign that said “I’m gay." They thought it was humorous but then started to realize how horrible the whole tragedy truly was.===

===Finally after his death many people’s eyes were opened to the terrible reality of this story. They began to notice how incredibly awful people are treated just because of a simple thing such as liking a person of the same sex. Matthew's mom has been a active participant in equal rights for homosexuals including creating the Matthew Shepard Foundation. Matthew Wayne Shepard and the gruesome and terrifying story of his death will never be forgotten.===

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