Father’s confession, 25 years after the world’s most famous gay hate murder

It’s been almost 26 years since the brutal murder of Matthew Shepard, in what has been widely described as one of the most horrific, premeditated hate speech attacks the Western world has ever seen.

In 1998, the 21-year-old college student was kidnapped, pistol-whipped and violently beaten by two young men who later tied him to a fence, set him on fire and left him to die after robbing him of $20 in almost freezing conditions. in Laramie, WY.

Nearly 24 hours passed before an onlooker finally found Matthew in a coma, his face so badly scarred that it was almost completely covered in blood, except where it had been partially cleansed by tears. As a result of his injuries, Matthew suffered severe brain stem damage.

He never woke up and died six days later.

The subsequent double murder trial – and conviction – on top of years of intense international media attention, is something almost every LGBTQ+ person will likely never forget.

In the nearly three decades that have passed, “we’ve made a lot of progress in a lot of ways,” Dennis Shepard, Matthew’s father, tells Yahoo News Australia, but the world is still “a dark place” for millions of gay people. everywhere.

For many queer people, the world is ‘still a dark place’

Shepard said he believes Matthew would be completely “shocked” by his own legacy and while many people “have realized it doesn’t matter if you’re straight or gay,” LGBTQ+ rights have been in decline in some countries and even ” became worse”.

“In some places you have bright light, in other places it’s still very, very dark,” Shepard told Yahoo. “We’ve come a long way in many ways because now there are same-sex couples all over the world who are allowed to get married, partnered or whatever.

“But in other places it has become even worse. In Uganda, and even now in Iran, for example, the death penalty is no longer applicable, but ten to fifteen years in prison.”

Shepard said the “two-tiered system” that existed in much of the world in 1998 when it comes to LGBTQ+ rights still exists. He believes the only way that will ever change is through legislative changes, which he hopes are on the horizon.

The ‘two-tier system’ still exists in 2024

“We have a straight son, and Matt was gay, and our straight son had more rights than our gay son. That was true then and it still is,” he said. You can get married in all 50 states in the US, but you can still be fired in 30 states for identifying as LGBTQ.

“And nothing can be done about it until we pass state laws and federal laws. That is something that is a great danger,” Shepard continued.

“People, especially young people, don’t care who holds whose hand, they are more concerned about the war in Gaza, Ukraine, gun violence and climate change.”

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT), where the community stands in solidarity with LGBTQ+ people around the world to continue standing up for acceptance, inclusivity and human rights.

According to Shepard, in 2024 we will still need days like IDAHOBIT as much as ever before.

“All over the world, including Australia, (certain political factions) are using fear to sow hatred against other people, instead of getting to know those people and finding out for themselves,” he said. “They are just like anyone else. We also need to work on people talking face-to-face.”

Matthew Shepard’s death marks a defining moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement

Shepard said he was impressed that Matthew’s case continues to make headlines 25 years later and remains a driving force in the LGBTQ+ rights movement. Although it may not come as a surprise to some, considering his tragic and untimely death has since been adapted into a Netflix documentary, multiple books, TV shows, plays, and even music.

In June 2019, Shepard was one of the first 50 American “pioneers, pioneers and heroes” inducted into the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor within the Stonewall National Monument (SNM) at the Stonewall Inn in New York City. Together with his wife Judy — who Shepard credits for leading the charge — the couple founded the Matthew Shepard Foundation, an LGBTQ+ nonprofit organization.

Earlier this week in Sydney, Dennis joined the cast of the Australian film adaptation of The Lamarie Project, where he delivered the same powerful speech he gave in a Wyoming courtroom 25 years ago.

“What happened to Matt has been a wake-up call to this country and much of the world that this is happening everywhere and we need to change that,” Shepard said.

“We thought we only had a few years and then people would forget about it because other things would come up, things like 911, Afghanistan. But for some reason that story stayed at the forefront. Maybe it’s because of who he was, or what he represented.

‘The same thing is happening now as it did in 1998 when we lost Matt, and our job is to try to raise awareness and remind people that this is still happening, especially among young people.

“I’m just incredibly proud to be involved in this.”

Two in three young queer Aussies experience abuse

The Laramie Project is the second most produced play in the US and has been seen by an estimated 10 million people around the world, in more than 40 countries, and has been adapted into 16 different languages.

“I think Matt would just be shocked to see how his life — and his dreams, goals and ambitions to make a better world — ultimately led to that,” Shepard said.

Micah Scott, CEO of Minus18’s, Australia’s LGBTQIA+ youth organization, told Yahoo News Australia at IDAHOBIT that two in three young queer Aussies experience abuse because of their identity.

“IDAHOBIT marks the date when homosexuality was declassified as a disease in 1990, but 30 years later, LGBTQIA+ communities still face discrimination in Australia,” he said. “Two in three young queer Aussies experience abuse because of their identity, while only 38 percent feel comfortable being out and proud of their work – a figure that is getting worse, not improving.

“The next generation of queer youth is leading the way in putting diversity and inclusivity at the center, and it’s time for the rest of the world to catch up.

“Seemingly small visibility actions – like wearing a rainbow pin or displaying your pronouns in your email signature – can make a huge difference in the lives of LGBTQIA+ people. There are so many ways allies can stand with their LGBTQIA+ colleagues today – and every day – to say no to discrimination.”

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