Remembering Matthew Shepard

The Book of Matt

NY Post: The Uncomfortable Truth in Matthew Shepard's Death

On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard was left beaten on a fence, to die. He did die on October 12, 1998. It was presented as a vicious hate crime because of homophobic rural Wyoming. Matthew Shepard was a symbol of the hate that gays faced in America.  

That was not, however, the true story. Matthew Shepard was killed in a drug related dispute, not over him being gay. Still, Matthew Shepard is more valuable as a legendary martyr than another victim of illegal drug culture. If you try to say the truth, you are guilty of trutherism. Or as was once said about the media and the west:  

This is why terms and especially legal provisions of "hate crimes" are so problematic. If you are on the receiving end of a pistol whipping that ultimately kills you, it's pretty hateful. In this particular case Matthew Shepard was not killed because he was homosexual, he was killed over a drug deal gone bad. I am not trying to explain away his death because of the circumstances, he did not deserve to die. It is a lie to say if Wyoming was more gay friendly, Matt would have lived.  

The guilty should be appropriately punished for their actual criminal acts. The murderer of Matthew Shepard got two life terms, no possibility of parole. 

In a side note: Matthew Shepard's mother opposed Jeff Sessions as AG because of his opposition to hate crimes legislation. I am upset with Sessions because he is for civil asset forfeiture.

TOM: Don't Become A Crazy Cat Lady and The Sorelian Myth of Matthew Shepard

EBL: The Passion of Matthew Shepard