Oct. 6, 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard, a student at the University of Wyoming, accepted a ride home from Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Little did he know this decision would be one that would ultimately claim his life and affect the lives of countless people around the world.
That fateful day, Shepard was beaten, pistol whipped, tied to a fence post and left for dead. He spent 18 hours tied to a fence post until a passing cyclist (who originally mistook Shepard for a scarecrow) found him unconscious and close to death. Shepard was rushed to a nearby hospital where he continued to fight for his life until Oct.12, when he finally succumbed to severe brain injuries.
This year marks the 13th anniversary of one the most infamous hate crimes in history; and San Diego Remembers, co-founded by Benny Cartwright and Ricky Cervantes, plans to help keep Matthews’ memory and legacy alive. The fourth annual San Diego Remembers Matthew Shepard march and ceremony will be held Oct. 11.
Cartwright says the idea came to him as Oct. 12, 2008 was approaching.
“I noticed that there seemed to be no plans for a ten-year commemoration,” Cartwright told San Diego LGBT Weekly. “And since everyone was so busy fighting Prop. 8, I asked Ricky to join me at the site of the San Diego John Wear Memorial Hate Crimes Plaque (on the sidewalk in front of Obelisk bookstore) where the two of us tied a purple ribbon, lit a candle and hung a poster that said ‘We Remember Matthew’ and included his photo. It was very homemade and grassroots but we felt that someone should remember.”
Since then, both Cartwright and Cervantes have worked to bring awareness to not just Matthews’ story but to others affected by hate crimes as well.
This year’s event will be held Tuesday, Oct. 11 at 7 p.m. in the Hillcrest neighborhood. A procession will begin at 7:30 p.m. starting at the Hillcrest Village Shopping Plaza and ending at the San Diego LGBT Community Center. During the first half of the procession, participants will be asked to walk in silence, pausing for a brief remembrance ceremony near the hate crimes plaque. As the procession moves on to The Center, people will be encouraged to get louder. The hope is that by exciting attendees, organizers will inspire them to take action and fight back.
“The entire program this year is focused on empowering people to fight back against hate,” Cervantes said.
According to Cervantes, last year’s event was more solemn.
“We want to give people the resources and information they need to get involved with community organizations such as The Trevor Project, PFLAG and HRC who are working every day to fight hate.”
The event at The Center begins at 8 p.m. and will include music by DJ John Joseph, brief community speakers, displays from different community organizations, food and a rally to encourage people to support SB48 – The Fair Education Act.
Both Cartwright and Cervantes hope the events can help raise public awareness and encourage more people to get involved. “One of our main goals, beyond planning the event, is empowering a new generation of community leaders to take action and use creative methods to engage others – and we absolutely love being able to do this.” Another organization that will be celebrating Shepard’s life this year will be The Matthew Shepard Foundation (TMSF). Founded by Dennis and Judy Shepard after the death of their son, the organization has been an important leader in speaking up against hate and helping to support those affected by it.
Created to honor Matthew Shepard in a manner befitting of his dreams, beliefs and aspirations, the foundation says that its goals are, “To replace hate with understanding, compassion and acceptance.”
TMSF accomplishes its mission by providing the community with varied educational, outreach and advocacy programs, and by continuing to tell Matthews’ story.
One of the most recognizable projects the foundation has been associated with is The Laramie Project. The play, written by Moisés Kaufman and other members of the Tectonic Theater Project deals with the response the town of Laramie had to the murder of Shepard.
The theater company used news reports at the time and hundreds of interviews which they personally conducted to draw inspiration for the play. According to Judy Shepard, The Laramie Project, which premiered October 2000, has been produced more than 5,000 times by schools, community theaters, faith-based organizations as well as mainstream theater groups the world over.
“This play has become a powerful tool for communities to discuss and explore how hate impacts every part of society,” says Shepard.
Judy Shepard, who has been a public figure in the fight for human rights since her son’s death, has been influential in helping to lobby for laws protecting people from hate crimes. One of her most notable achievements has been getting the Matthew Shepard Act passed.
The act which was signed into law by President Barack Obama Oct. 22, 2009 expands the 1969 United States Federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim’s actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. At a recent National Equality march, she addressed a rally for LGBT rights.
“I’m here today because I lost my son to hate. No one has the right to tell my son whether or not he can work anywhere. Whether or not he can live wherever he wants to live and whether or not he can be with the one person he loves – no one has that right,” Ms. Shepard told the massive crowd. “We are all Americans. We are all equal Americans, gay, straight – or whatever.”
