Matthew Shepard: powerful works born of tragic death
The fatal beating of Matthew Shepard in 1998, an anti-gay crime, sparked nationwide protests -- and a number of powerful literary works.
Today, the anniversary of Shepard's death, is a good time to learn more about the University of Wyoming student, shown here in an undated photo. And here are a few places to start:
-- "The Laramie Project," a Moises Kaufman play that uses a series of monologues to examine the issues surrounding Shepard's slaying.
-- "The Meaning of Matthew" by Judy Shepard, an exploration by his mother, who has become a well-known advocate for gay rights and founder of a foundation that bears his name.
-- "Losing Matt Shepard," by University of Wyoming professor Beth Loffreda, looks at the slaying's legacy in Laramie and beyond.
Comments
More than 8 years ago -- ABC did an expose
that PROVED that Matthew Sheppard was
killed as a result of 'a drug deal gone bad' --
and his murder was NOT due to homophobia.
(One of his killers was an ex-lover of his.)
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=277685&page=1
abcnews DOT go DOT com/2020/story?id=277685&page=1
Matthew Sheppard was NOT killed due to his being gay
-- he was killed due to his being a campus drug dealer.
Posted by: JaneTheCommentator | October 12, 2011 9:25 PM
Jane, I just read the ABC report, and though it raises questions about the homophobic nature of the attack, it doesn't implicate Shepard in any drug deal -- and certainly doesn't paint him as a "campus drug dealer." It does state that the beating may have started as part of a robbery -- by drug-crazed killers.
Posted by: Dave | October 12, 2011 10:01 PM
As always,comments can be very mean-and distort the facts. nobody should die the way he did.
Posted by: Marc Roberts | October 13, 2011 3:10 AM