2008 Woodie Awards
Judy Shepard shares love, grief
Sean Leviashvili
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
Judy Shepard describes herself as an introvert, but said she sets that aside to speak to audiences about her son, Matthew Shepard, who was murdered nearly 10 years ago.
As part of Northeastern's "Day of Silence," NUBiLAGA, the student run gay-straight alliance on campus, sponsored Shepard. An advocate and ally of the gay community, Shepard shared her and her son's stories at Raytheon Ampitheare Tuesday to a crowd of nearly 150 people.
"In the past, we haven't had someone come and speak about a hate crime in general and especially in the gay community," said Kat Palermino, former co-chair for NUBiLAGA. "[Shepard] coming here is great because it shows that we're serious about promoting change and promoting tolerance, and more than that, acceptance."
The presentation began with a short video, recapping two hate crimes, but focused mainly on her son's. Matthew, who was 21 years old and gay, met Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney at a gay bar near the University of Wyoming on Oct. 7, 1998.
Matthew left with Henderson and McKinney, who later that night, robbed, tortured and left him tied to a fence in a remote area to die. He was found several hours later by a cyclist and brought to a hospital.
"There were tubes everywhere, enabling him to live. Tubes helping him breathe, a machine to monitor his vital signs - at first I wasn't sure if it was him but I looked closer and saw the cute little bump on his left ear, the clear blue of his eye, his black eyelashes, and then I touched his hand hoping for a response," Shepard said. "He started shaking, an involuntary response to the touching."
At the time, Shepard was living in Saudi Arabia. When she received the call at 5:30 a.m., she had to travel 19 hours to get to her son.
He died at 12:53 a.m. on Oct. 12 1998 at a hospital in Fort Collins, Colo.
"We felt the relief that Matt was no longer suffering, but our own suffering began," Shepard said.
Shepard can't make sense out of events like these, she said, but hopes to enlighten and inform those who are interested in making a difference and preventing future hate crimes.
As part of Northeastern's "Day of Silence," NUBiLAGA, the student run gay-straight alliance on campus, sponsored Shepard. An advocate and ally of the gay community, Shepard shared her and her son's stories at Raytheon Ampitheare Tuesday to a crowd of nearly 150 people.
"In the past, we haven't had someone come and speak about a hate crime in general and especially in the gay community," said Kat Palermino, former co-chair for NUBiLAGA. "[Shepard] coming here is great because it shows that we're serious about promoting change and promoting tolerance, and more than that, acceptance."
The presentation began with a short video, recapping two hate crimes, but focused mainly on her son's. Matthew, who was 21 years old and gay, met Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney at a gay bar near the University of Wyoming on Oct. 7, 1998.
Matthew left with Henderson and McKinney, who later that night, robbed, tortured and left him tied to a fence in a remote area to die. He was found several hours later by a cyclist and brought to a hospital.
"There were tubes everywhere, enabling him to live. Tubes helping him breathe, a machine to monitor his vital signs - at first I wasn't sure if it was him but I looked closer and saw the cute little bump on his left ear, the clear blue of his eye, his black eyelashes, and then I touched his hand hoping for a response," Shepard said. "He started shaking, an involuntary response to the touching."
At the time, Shepard was living in Saudi Arabia. When she received the call at 5:30 a.m., she had to travel 19 hours to get to her son.
He died at 12:53 a.m. on Oct. 12 1998 at a hospital in Fort Collins, Colo.
"We felt the relief that Matt was no longer suffering, but our own suffering began," Shepard said.
Shepard can't make sense out of events like these, she said, but hopes to enlighten and inform those who are interested in making a difference and preventing future hate crimes.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
asadastra
Alex
posted 4/10/08 @ 9:59 AM EST
Wow! What a great article! Thank you for focusing on such important issues.
Caitlin
posted 4/11/08 @ 11:00 AM EST
"In the past, we haven't had someone come and speak about a hate crime in general and especially in the gay community," said Kat Palermino, former co-chair for NUBiLAGA. (Continued…)
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