Gay Student Beaten, Left For Dead on Wyo. Fence

[FreeState]

Eleven years ago. We will never forget.

http://www.goodasyou.org/good_as_you/2009/10/we-held-our-breath.html

[thunder rising]

1. This is years old... yes?

[xultar]

7. Are you kidding me? It is what of it?

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[YOY]

18. Read it. If you don't know it's significance you really do not belong here.

n/t

[Bucky]

45. Correction

If the poster is simply young and uninformed, that this is exactly where he/she should be.

Don't presume malice where ignorance provides a sufficient explanation.

[YOY]

47. Claims to be 50 Bucky.

Either way...sometimes folks generally don't know things.

[tomm2thumbs]

53. good point on the presumption and +1 for the tact in saying it

[lib_wit_it]

58. Well, the OP did start with ",Eleven years ago. We will never forget."

[spiritual_gunfighter]

64. I wasn't aware we had someone that was not a moderator

who was keeping track of who belongs on DU and who doesn't. Thanks for the heads up, I hope you think I belong here.

[marmar]

48. Doesn't even seem that long ago......I watched the Laramie Project the other day.

Tragedy.....and we still have people balking at LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes and discrimination protection.

[Jamastiene]

66. 9/11 is years old. People remember that too. Duh...

It is in remembrance of Matthew Shepard. :wtf: is your problem with it, exactly?

[thunder rising]

2. This is years old... yes?

[FreeState]

3. The article is from 11 years ago today n/t

[Name removed]

4. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

43. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. The principals of tragedy

[KG]

8. hope they're enjoying their stay at the Greybar Hotel.

they sure don't look so tough in that pic.

[ccharles000]

6. k/r

[Echo In Light]

9. "Macho, macho man! I've got to be a macho man!"

[TransitJohn]

10. That whole thing was so surreal.

So many different factions using the situation to their own ends. At least McKinney and Henderson got life without parole. Was really strange seeing my town all over the international media for weeks.

[BlooInBloo]

29. Yes it was. :(

[phasma ex machina]

69. You said it ...

A cafeteria style kangaroo court serving up fresh bread and circuses to the masses.

[RKP5637]

11. So very sad. n/t

[mix]

12. horrible, shameful

My first trip to WYO...I was up near Cody when this happened the morning after my arrival. Wyoming, needless to say, is not a tolerant, liberal place...I found no-one, in the days after the crime, who was sympathetic to the victim. I am sure there were some, but not the people I met.

[RKP5637]

21. I used to drive through WY a lot cross country, got in and out as fast as I could...

never did like it there and this was before poor Matthew Shepard. I've known people from WY that don't like it there, especially then with Cheney in Jackson Hole.

[mix]

39. I tried to like WYO, I really did...

...I've worked on various ranches in the state over the years and never a liberal, rational voice was heard. The level of quotidian racism, homophobia and sexism was stomach turning for me...I've been around cowboy culture all my life and the cowboys of Wyoming are the worst. Shitty horsemen too. A vile subculture still fighting the "Indian Wars." It was WYO's cowboy culture that killed Matthew Shepard.

May his soul find repose and love.

[lib_wit_it]

59. Weird. I was in WY just once, on a three day weekend to play a wedding gig, and I was creeped out by

the place. None of my friends could figure out what my problem was. We saw some gorgeous landscapes, met some nice people, but something didn't feel right. I'm not exactly new agey and big into vibes normally (NTTAWWT), but the freepiness was in the air there.

[MountainLaurel]

13. I've got The Laramie Project from Netflix

How appropriate that I watch it tonight.

[Stinky The Clown]

17. You will find it completely mesmerizing

It is all actors. Names you know. You will lose sight of that fact VERY quickly. The movie is amazing. It ought to be shown in schools.

[joeybee12]

38. I was blown away by it...it got really bad reviews, which I couldn't

believe after seeing it.

[tblue]

55. My son's high school produced the play. No one baliked, far as I know. Cool, huh?

I thought it was the best play I ever saw, and it was all performed by high school students. I'm so sad thinking about poor, beautiful young Matthew. :cry:

I didn't even know they made a movie of this play. Now I just gotta rent it.

[JTFrog]

57. They showed it at my son's school and they came from Kansas to protest.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20090924/LOCAL1802/909240394/1013/NEWS04/Possible+protest+over+play+won+t+faze+North+Central

I will admit to being impressed with the way the school handled something for a change. :)

"North Central is a place that addresses issues of our day," Quandt said. "I am proud of the social conscience North Central theater has shown. This play is not a stretch for us. We are very comfortable with the subject and what it tells us about relationships and how we treat each other."

In his message to the parents he was pretty adamant about not wanting the protesters to gain any "victory" from added publicity.

*edit fixed link

[Chulanowa]

14. Gawd. Your title made me afraid there'd been a copycat

But remember, the Matthew Shepard act is "holding our soldiers hostage" :eyes:

[Dogmudgeon]

16. Relax, folks -- it's a memorial post for Matthew Shepard

But, don't relax, either -- the struggle for the rights of all of us continues.

--d!

[GreenPartyVoter]

20. I did at first think, "Oh no, not again!" So I am somewhat relaxed now, but still not, for as you

say the struggle for human rights is not over.

[RKP5637]

24. It's sadly been that way forever, there are those that will stomp you out just 'casue you exist. n/t

[GreenPartyVoter]

25. The real question is, does it have to be true forever? If our species can

survive another 25,000 years will we finally grow up? (This is, of course, assuming we don't completely annihilate ourselves or fall back into a new dark age.)

[RKP5637]

26. I often wonder... we advance in technology, but fall backwards as a society. Sometimes...

I do seriously think mankind will completely be self-annihilated as you say or fall back into a new dark age. It could be so easy to move forward and have a wonderful world, but so many seem to want just the opposite. Often I just do not get it... it could be so easy.

[GreenPartyVoter]

27. It could be easy on some levels. But dealing with world poverty and hunger

are a major factor in our growth, I think, and not so easy to manage. :(

[RKP5637]

28. Yes, so true, just survival overwhelms the rest!

[Altoid_Cyclist]

19. It's been 11 years and yet I still get upset just thinking about it.

Those two sub-humans better not ever have a chance of getting out of prison.

When I think of the ***holes around here that made it so hard for my brother to live his life the way that he wanted, I just have a hard time remembering that I don't believe in violence.

Those two deserve a little violence directed towards them.

[RKP5637]

23. Agree!!! "Those two deserve a little violence directed toward them." n/t

[Altoid_Cyclist]

31. I'm really not a violent person.

When I see how much pure hatred people in this area have for people like Matthew and my brother, I just tend to become a different person.

My brother died earlier this year so he'll never benefit even if society does finally realize that people shouldn't be judged on anything other than how they treat other people.

My brother spent his whole life trying to help anyone who needed help and yet he was judged by some people on one part of who he was.

[RKP5637]

32. That is so sad, one's whole life judged by just one part of a person.

To me, that is pure ignorance.

[Altoid_Cyclist]

46. That seems to be one thing that is sold in bulk around here.

I'm still trying to figure out the proper way to respond to my in-laws when they make a remark that is offensive. If possible I just try to avoid being around them.
If I have to be around them, I just leave the room long enough to calm down so I don't start a family feud if they happen to say something ignorant.

Ignorance might be bliss, but not when it is used to judge people.

[myrna minx]

22. RIP Matthew.

:cry:

[Brigid]

30. Just saw a film about this on LMN.

It was called "The Matthew Shepard Story" and starred Stockard Channing and Sam Waterston. I'm assuming they ran it because of this anniversary. A shameful, shameful tragedy and I hope the perpetrators are still alive and in prison on this day, remembering what he has done and begging God -- and Matthew -- for forgiveness. :(

[ThatsMyBarack]

41. I've seen that film several times.

It gets sadder each time I see it. :cry:

[Gwendolyn]

33. His death and the circumstances surrounding it were a defining moment in my life.

And that for many in my age group. It was a 90s style lynching.

Yes, let's never forget.

[robo50]

44. Wow, that tells me a lot about your character, very wise, very concerned

were you young then, a teen, early 20's? Just curious.

I was moved by the march on Washington in 1963, and the murders in Mississippi just to give you some perspective on my age, I was a teen then.

Yes, I have to admit, I got more outraged about hatred toward gay people after Matthew's death, but I was already very well there, ever since Stonewall, ever since Harvey Milk. Thinking of the decades of hatred toward gay people, we can't seem to shake that hatred here in the USA very easily. Just an observation.

Matthew, we never knew you in life, but you made a difference in so many lives.

[dsc]

34. I remember it like it was yesterday

On Monday several theaters across the country are debuting an update of the Laramie Project. The same team went back to Laramie and interviewed several townspeople like they did before plus they interviewed either one or both killers. I have tickets for the Raleigh performance.

[RKP5637]

37. I remember it too like yesterday! Spooks me whenever I think about it, such an innocent person! n/t

[Taverner]

35. Shit you had me worried - thinking "AGAIN???"

RIP Matthew

[Starry Messenger]

36. RIP Matthew

So horrific. :(

[GrantDem]

40. RIP Matthew

[bigwillq]

42. RIP

:( :cry:

[donheld]

49. Lest we forget

[tnlefty]

50. I was also thinking, 'this didn't happen again',

I'm thinking about his family and friends. :hug: I so admire Judy and I don't know how she keeps going. I don't remember where I read it, but she was being attacked months ago for advocating for hate crimes legislation. After this tragedy, beginning the foundation, and still she is publicly attacked by hateful asshats.

Warm thoughts to the Shepard family.

[BreweryYardRat]

51. Disingenous post title.

Something like "11th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death" would be more appropriate.

If only so people don't think "Oh crap, not again!"

[Bluenorthwest]

63. Well bashings are a weekly occurance

and many lead to death. Matthew was not the last. People who want to hold that delusion need to be shocked into understanding. When it is not still happening, they can say Oh crap all they'd like and be thanked for it. Note that a law with Matthew's name is still needed.

[BobTheSubgenius]

52. Deleted posts? In THIS thread?

REALLY?

I shouldn't be surprised, I suppose. Disgusted, but not surprised.

[tomm2thumbs]

54. Deleted Message

yes, I'm kidding about the 'deleted message'. I think there were some angry posts by folks who thought the headline should have been a little clearer about it not being a new story, even if the first line does make it clear.

I still carry the same picture of Matthew Shepard in my wallet I brought to a candlelight vigil in town, but had no idea it had been eleven years. The picture was the one thing I figured I could do to not forget.

[bigscott]

56. that was the day I came out to my parents

my mother thought I would end up like Matthew - god rest his soul.

peace

[Fearless]

60. Damnit! Don't title things like they just happened!

Even though I absolutely know what it is upon actually reading it... :argh:

[Politicub]

61. This story breaks my heart and brings me to tears

each time I see Matthew's picture or his mother continuing the fight for equal rights for everyone.

Never forget.

[barbtries]

62. when i saw the headline,

my heart fell, not again?! i didn't know it was the anniversary. no, we must not forget.

[JonLP24]

65. If anyone is interested. Here is a video of Matthew Shepard

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nt8fA8x_Eeg

This is from a Jesse Holmes documentary.

[BrklynLiberal]

68. Sad, sad irony.

[Jamastiene]

67. RIP Matthew Shepard

[8 track mind]

70. Nobody deserves to die like this. No one.

When i read this story and others like it, it hardens my resolve to obtain my black belt and to eventually become an instructor. I want to empower people to keep this from happening. There are a lot of truly twisted fucks out there.

I have said this on DU before and i will say it again: please get some form of self defense training. It doesn't really cost all that much and it can mean the difference between life and death.

[Mad_Dem_X]

71. RIP, Matthew. We will never forget.

:cry:

[bertman]

72. Thank you for reminding me of this, FreeState. I hope we never forget the price of

treating other human beings as "the other".

Rec.

[David Zephyr]

73. K&R.

Thanks for keeping Matthew's memory alive and reminding everyone how there is still one minority left in the U.S. that's it's acceptable to murder, beat, bully, discriminate in housing and in employment, in marriage and in serving the nation. And there are too many people that are comfortable with that status.

If your thread upsets anyone, then I could care less because it says more about them than they know.

Thanks!

[bluestateboomer]

74. The Laramie Project at GWU in Washington DC

FYI for those in Washington DC

THE LARAMIE PROJECT
At George Washington University

October 22nd-24th, 2009

The Laramie Project

The Laramie Project is a play by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project about the reaction to the murder of Matthew Shepard in 1998. The play draws on hundreds of interviews conducted by the theatre company with inhabitants of the town, company members' own journal entries, and published news reports.


Directed by Elyssa Wright

[Buzz cook]

75. Wyoming State Motto

Equal Rights

Title 8 - General Provisions
CHAPTER 3 - STATE SEAL, FLAG, FLOWER, BIRD AND OTHER SYMBOLS
SECTION 8-3-101.

8-3-101. Great seal of the state of Wyoming.

There shall be a great seal of the state of Wyoming, which shall be of the following design, viz: A circle one and one-half (1 1/2) inches in diameter, on the outer edge or rim of which shall be engraved the words "Great Seal of the State of Wyoming." The design shall conform substantially to the following description: A pedestal, showing on the front thereof an eagle resting upon a shield, the shield to have engraved thereon a star and the figures, "44," being the number of Wyoming in the order of admission to statehood. Standing upon the pedestal shall be a draped figure of a woman, modeled after the statue of the "Victory of the Louvre," from whose wrists shall hang links of a broken chain, and holding in her right hand a staff from the top of which shall float a banner with the words "Equal Rights" thereon, all suggesting the political position of woman in this state. On either side of the pedestal and standing at the base thereof, shall be male figures typifying the livestock and mining industries of Wyoming. Behind the pedestal, and in the background, shall be two (2) pillars, each supporting a lighted lamp, signifying the light of knowledge. Around each pillar shall be a scroll with the following words thereon: On the right of the central figure the words "Livestock" and "Grain," and on the left the words "Mines" and "Oil." At the base of the pedestal, and in front, shall appear the figures "1869-1890," the former date signifying the organization of the territory of Wyoming and the latter the date of its admission to statehood.

We can work to make that a true statement.