Judy and Dennis Shepard, the parents of Matthew Shepard, talk about the Matthew Shepard Foundation and their advocacy work over the last 25-years. Matthew was brutally killed in Wyoming , USA in October 1998. It was one of the most notorious anti-gay hate crimes in the history of the United States. As part of a larger Pacific tour, Judy and Dennis visited New Zealand for the first time. As part of the interview, Judy and Dennis read Matthew's poem I Am. This is available as a seperate stereo recording. A special thanks to the staff of the US Embassy for assisting with these recordings.
Audio and Text Download mp3 Download HQ mp3Plain Text (for Gen AI)Summary
Judy and Dennis Shepard, the founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, are the subjects of this interview conducted by Gareth Watkins on May 28, 2024, at the Embassy of the United States in Wellington, New Zealand. The Shepards discuss their ongoing mission to raise awareness about the discrimination faced by marginalized communities, particularly the LGBTQI+ community, through the legacy of their son, Matthew Shepard, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in October 1998.
The Shepards have been engaged in advocacy for over 25 years, driven by the ongoing struggle for LGBTQI+ rights in the United States. They acknowledge that, despite significant progress, full equality has not yet been achieved, and their work remains crucial. The Shepards express frustration with the political climate in the U.S., where conservative policies continue to undermine the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals. They emphasize the importance of achieving legal equality to help marginalized youth feel accepted and recognized.
Comparing international responses to LGBTQI+ rights, the Shepards highlight how countries like New Zealand and Australia have surpassed the U.S. in some areas, such as marriage equality, which was legalized by law in these countries rather than through court decisions as in the U.S. They note that legal protections, including hate crime laws, are essential for ensuring the safety and dignity of LGBTQI+ individuals.
In the interview, Judy and Dennis reflect on their personal journey of coping with Matthew's loss while advocating for change. They differentiate between public discussions about "Matthew" as a symbol of the LGBTQI+ struggle and private memories of "Matt," their beloved son. This distinction helps them navigate their grief and continue their advocacy work. They also share the impact of donating some of Matthew's personal items to the Smithsonian Institution, recognizing his significance in the broader narrative of LGBTQI+ history.
The Shepards discuss the emotional significance of a poem written by Matthew, titled "I Am," which reveals his introspective nature and his multifaceted identity. This poem, along with other creative works such as "The Laramie Project," helps keep Matthew's story alive and relevant. Dennis's involvement in performing a piece from "The Laramie Project" in Sydney underscores the ongoing impact of their advocacy and the importance of personal stories in driving social change.
Reflecting on their accomplishments, the Shepards express pride in the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009, which expanded federal hate crime laws in the U.S. They also highlight the honor of Judy receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work in advancing LGBTQI+ rights. Despite these achievements, the Shepards emphasize the continued need for activism and the hope that one day their foundation's mission will be fulfilled, allowing them to close its doors with the assurance that true equality has been achieved.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
Voices
Tags
1990s, 2020s, aotearoa new zealand, australia, dennis shepard, diversity, donald trump, embassy of the united states, equality, gay, hate, hate act, hate crime, hate speech, judy shepard, kingdom of saudi arabia (ksa), marriage equality, matthew shepard, matthew shepard and james byrd jr. hate crimes prevention act (2009), national museum of american history, nex benedict, poetry, presidential medal of freedom, roe v. wade, smithsonian institution, suicide, suicide prevention, sydney, tectonic theater project, the laramie project, trans, transgender, united states of america, victim impact statement, wellington, wyoming
Tags (computer generated)
acceptance, backstage, board, boarding school, books, bullying, change, coming out, community, cowboy, crime, death, difference, election, environment, europe, family, fear, freedom, friends, future, gender, growing up, horse, individual, job, law, lgbt, loss, marriage, media, middle east, mourning, murder, music, optimism, other, pandemic, parents, people, performance, politics, prevention, race, reading, recognition, religion, respect, school, self esteem, sex, speech, straight, stuff, superman, time, top, travel, understanding, university, victim, violence, wedding, wish, work