50 Facts About Matthew Shepard

Early Life and Family

Matthew Shepard's story begins in a small town, but his impact would reach far beyond. Let's explore the early years of this remarkable individual.

1. Birth and Early Life: Matthew Wayne Shepard was born on December 1, 1976, in Casper, Wyoming, to Judy and Dennis Shepard.
2. Family Background: He was the first of two sons, with his younger brother Logan born in 1981.
3. Early Education: Matthew attended Crest Hill Elementary School, Dean Morgan Junior High School, and Natrona County High School for his freshman through junior years.
4. Interest in Politics: At just 7 years old, Matthew was already involved in politics, volunteering for an environmental group that aimed to start a recycling program in his hometown of Casper, Wyoming.
5. Theater Involvement: He was one of the youngest members of Casper’s community theater group and played the role of Abraham Lincoln at his school’s history day.
6. Peer Counselor: As a student at Natrona County High School, Matthew was elected a peer counselor, showing his leadership and empathetic nature.

Dreams and Ambitions

Matthew had big dreams and a clear vision for his future. His aspirations were as diverse as they were ambitious.

7. Dreams and Ambitions: His dream was to work for the U.S. State Department, where he hoped to bring the same privileges and rights that he thought he had as an American to other countries.
8. University Education: Matthew attended the University of Wyoming at Laramie, where he studied foreign relations, languages, and political science.
9. Open About His Sexuality: On campus, Matthew was open about his sexuality and involved in the university’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) student association.

The Tragic Night

The events of one fateful night in October 1998 would change everything, turning Matthew into a symbol for the fight against hate.

10. Murder: On the night of October 6, 1998, Matthew was befriended by two men, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, who were posing as gay to lure him away from a local bar in Laramie, Wyoming.
11. Brutal Beating: The two men drove him to a rural area where they tied him to a fence, administered a brutal beating with a pistol, and left him to die in the cold.
12. Discovery: Matthew was discovered 18 hours later by a bicyclist and was rushed to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, where he died four days later from severe head injuries.
13. Suspects Arrested: Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson were arrested shortly after the attack and charged with first-degree murder following Matthew's death.

Media and Legal Impact

Matthew's death brought national attention and led to significant changes in hate crime legislation.

14. Media Coverage: The murder received significant media coverage, highlighting the role of Matthew's sexual orientation as a motive for the crime.
15. Hate Crime Legislation: Matthew's death was cited by figures within the gay rights movement as clear-cut evidence of the need for more-expansive federal hate crime legislation.
16. Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act: In 2007, the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (later dubbed the Matthew Shepard Act) was introduced to address these shortcomings in the law.
17. Delayed Passage: Although the bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, it was delayed due to widespread Republican opposition, including from U.S. Pres. George W. Bush, who threatened to veto it.
18. Final Passage: In 2009, a modified version of the bill was finally approved by both the House and the Senate. U.S. Pres. Barack Obama signed the legislation, officially known as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009.
19. Impact on Hate Crime Laws: This legislation expanded federal hate crime law to include violence committed because of the sexual orientation of the victim.

Legacy and Remembrance

Matthew's legacy lives on through various initiatives and memorials, ensuring his story continues to inspire change.

20. Matthew Shepard Foundation: Matthew's parents, Dennis and Judy, established the Matthew Shepard Foundation to “replace hate with understanding, compassion, and acceptance” through various educational initiatives.
21. The Laramie Project: The play The Laramie Project, a chronicle of Matthew's death composed of interviews with Laramie residents, was created by the Tectonic Theater Project shortly after his death.
22. Television Movies: Matthew was the subject of two television movies— The Matthew Shepard Story and The Laramie Project (both 2002).
23. Grave Site Concerns: Due to concerns that his grave site would be vandalized, Matthew was not buried until 2018, when his ashes were interred in the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Personal Struggles and Triumphs

Matthew's life was marked by both challenges and moments of triumph, reflecting his resilience and determination.

24. Personal Life: Matthew was slight of build, 5'2", and gay. He had many different kinds of friends and was still becoming himself.
25. Childhood Memories: In grade school, he was talkative and curious. He wore a Superman cape and was Dolly Parton for Halloween three years in a row.
26. Outdoor Activities: He camped and fished and hunted with his family and grandparents.
27. Shared Interests: Matthew and his mother shared an interest in politics and culture. He liked to act and was regularly in theater productions.
28. Friendly Nature: He was outgoing, friendly, and a kind friend who was aware of others more than many kids his age.
29. Emotional Health Insights: In a grade school fill-in-the-blank activity about emotional health, Matthew wrote insightful comments about how certain behaviors made him feel.
30. Struggles in School: Matt sometimes struggled in school due to a learning disability. He wore braces on his teeth for years.
31. Restlessness and Invincibility: He was young and restless and believed himself invincible. During his senior year of high school, Matt and some friends went to Morocco.
32. Personal Tragedy: In Morocco, he was jumped by three men who raped him. After that, he wore loose clothes to hide his body, had nightmares, and tried different anxiety medications but took them inconsistently.
33. Depression and Drinking: Matt drank and had periods of depression. He dropped out of college for a while and struggled to get out from under the crushing weight of the attack.
34. Loyal Friendships: Despite his struggles, he had loyal and fierce friendships and a couple of boyfriends. He purchased a ring for his imagined future husband.
35. Return to Wyoming: By the time he enrolled at the University of Wyoming in September 1998, he seemed to be getting his life together—back in the West, demons corralled, near his family, focused on school.

The Complex Narrative

Matthew's story is complex, with various facets that go beyond the initial narrative.

36. Leaving the Fireside Lounge: There are many reasons that might have led him to leave the Fireside Lounge in Laramie with two guys in a pickup truck that night. He was gay when being gay could make you especially vulnerable, and sometimes, when you are 21, you just do it.
37. The Book of Matt: Journalist Stephen Jimenez wrote The Book of Matt: Hidden Truths About the Murder of Matthew Shepard, which challenged the conventional narrative of Matthew's murder by exploring other, more critical aspects of the case.
38. Investigation by Stephen Jimenez: Jimenez went to Laramie to research the story of Matthew Shepard’s murder in 2000, after the two men convicted of killing him had gone to prison, and after the national media had moved on. His aim was to write a screenplay on what he, and the rest of the nation, believed to be an open-and-shut case of bigoted violence.
39. Thirteen-Year Investigation: Over the course of a thirteen-year investigation, Jimenez traveled to twenty states and Washington D.C., and interviewed more than a hundred named sources.
40. Drug Trafficking Underworld: His exhaustive investigation also plunged him deep into the deadly underworld of drug trafficking, revealing a tangled web of secrets that were not part of the initial narrative.
41. Central Role of Sexuality: Despite the revelations about drug trafficking, Jimenez's work emphasized that Matthew’s sexuality was not incidental but less central than popular consensus had led us to believe.
42. Tragedy and Horror: Regardless of Matthew's relationship with McKinney or his involvement in the drug trade, Jimenez believed that this did not detract from the tragedy and horror of his ending.

Symbolic Impact and Ongoing Influence

Matthew Shepard's story continues to resonate, inspiring change and advocating for the rights of marginalized individuals.

43. Symbolic Impact: In his death, Matthew Shepard became a symbol for the fight against bigotry and hate. The horrific murder made headlines across the nation and galvanized a movement that put a spotlight on violence against the LGBTQ+ community.
44. Charity Foundation: His killing resulted in an outpouring of grief and anger that people channeled into poetry, songs, musical compositions, movies, a charity foundation, and at least two plays.
45. Hate Crimes Prevention Act: The movement sparked by Matthew's death led to more comprehensive hate-crime legislation. The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (later dubbed the Matthew Shepard Act) was a direct result of this movement.
46. International Recognition: Matthew's story has been recognized internationally. The Smithsonian National Museum of American History has objects related to his life, including materials left by his parents.
47. Curatorial Insights: Curator Katherine Ott has been piecing together a sense of Matthew through the objects he left and stories from his parents and published accounts.
48. Familiarity and Unexceptionality: Matthew is familiar in being unexceptional. His story is relatable because he was young and restless, believed himself invincible, and sometimes struggled in school due to a learning disability.
49. Legacy and Influence: Twenty years on, reading through the stacks of condolence messages, thinking about the objects he left, and remembering the thousands of lives he has influenced does not bring a sense of peace or grace. It reminds us of how far the needle of history still needs to move to get people who are outside the box to a place of safety and acceptance.
50. Enduring Spirit: Despite the reality of his tragic end, there is a 'spirit' of those myths that long survive the reality and soothe, enlighten, and fulfill us in ways that the truth cannot. Matthew Shepard was a normal man involved in extraordinary circumstances that in one way or another caused his death.

Matthew Shepard's Enduring Legacy

Matthew Shepard's life and tragic death have left an indelible mark on society. His story, filled with dreams, struggles, and a brutal end, has become a powerful symbol in the fight against hate and bigotry. The Matthew Shepard Foundation continues his mission, promoting understanding and acceptance. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act stands as a testament to his impact, expanding protections for marginalized communities. Plays like The Laramie Project and various films keep his memory alive, reminding us of the ongoing struggle for equality. Matthew's ashes, now resting in the Washington National Cathedral, symbolize a nation’s commitment to honor his legacy. His life, though cut short, continues to inspire change, fostering a world where everyone can live without fear of hate.