Matthew Shepard Research Paper

Being gay in the 1990’s was accepted for well-know people like Ellen Degeneres, but many people did not respect ordinary homosexuals. A great representation of this is a boy named, Matthew Shepard. He was gay and defenseless because popular belief deemed him unfit to be able to act the way his brain was hardwired. A mockingbird is someone or something who has a desire to do only good, but is harmed illegitimately. Matthew resembles a mockingbird because of his illegitimate killing and the vulnerability he faced due to his unpopular beliefs.

Matthew was an intelligent and passionate young man. In high school, he and his family moved to Saudi Arabia, and finished the end of his high school career in Switzerland. His friends and family would

His passion for equality and travel led him to studying political science, foreign relations and language at the University of Wyoming. Matthew strived to help as many people as possible, and his passion to become more educated stemmed from this. Matthew’s studies and desires quickly halted to a stop on one October evening in Laramie, Wyoming. Two men lured Matthew into their truck, at the time Matthew was unaware that this event would soon have him begging for his life. Later that evening, the“21-year-old gay college student Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten, tied to a fence and left for dead [by the two anti-gay men])” (ABC News). His small and dainty stature often made him look and feel more vulnerable to others. On that evening, Matthew was beaten and killed because of his sexual orientation, and unfortunately could no longer advance his studies and passion for helping others. Matthew’s death quickly went nationwide, infuriating and inspiring gay

His death engendered The Matthew Shepard Foundation. This foundation was created by his parents in efforts to raise awareness for hate crimes and ultimately help people embrace diversity. The foundation says that, their “...work is an extension of Matt’s passion to foster a more caring and just world…[They] share his story and embody his vigor for civil rights to change the hearts and minds of others to accept everyone as they are” (“Matthew…”). Matthew’s mother travels around to high schools and colleges across the nation and tells Matthew’s story. This website is advocating for Matthew’s efforts and continues to share his legacy. James Byrd was a victim of another hate-crime. At the age of 49, Byrd was dragged behind the back of a truck and killed because of the color of his skin. After the passing of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr., there was a hate crime prevention act placed in their name. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Act of 2009, “provides funding and technical assistance to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions to help them to more effectively investigate and prosecute hate crimes” (“The Matthew…”). Due to the fact that this act was placed in his name, it is clear that Matthew’s death impacted society. As another result of his death, playwrights and performers wrote the play, The Laramie Project. The play “...is a gripping tour through the actual spoken