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her activism, and the Christian right |
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By John Aravosis
Wired Strategies
"I don't want this to ever happen again," Mrs. Shepard told the nearly 600 journalists assembled, in response to a question as to why she transformed from everyday-mom to anti-hate activist. Her voice beginning to break a bit, she continued: "I'm determined to make whatever difference I can, for Matt."
In fact, Shepard has been surprised not just by the media's coverage of her son's death, but by the continuing outpouring of sympathy she receives. "I get mail from all over the world on a daily basis," Shepard said. "Most of the people I hear from now are straight people," including parents, but also a lot of grandparents who are "worried" about their gay grandchildren. She admitted that "I don't know what's compelling them to still write," but she finds it "encouraging" and "wonderful" that they do. As to why her son's death so touched the hearts of gays and straights alike, Mrs. Shepard said that Matt "could have been anybody's son." He "looked so innocent…he was everybody's kid." Mrs. Shepard was also asked about how it has felt to have Christian right groups demonize her son – protesting his funeral with signs saying "Matt burns in hell," and even including a picture on a religious right hate Web site showing Matt aflame in hell: 216.71.100.163/memorial.html
Hate site showing Matthew Shepard burning in hell
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"I have seen Matt burning in hell," Mrs. Shepard said, indicating she had visited the God Hates Fags Web site. But explained that she has very little time or energy to devote to even thinking about such people, and simply responded "I pity them." Mrs. Shepard also revealed that she is concerned about some of the misinformation that has persisted about Matt. For example, she revealed that the descriptions of Matt's ordeal as Christ-like are not exactly accurate. Matt "wasn't tied to the fence like Christ," Shepard told the gathering. While he was in fact tied to the fence, he was found slumped on the ground, not standing. In addition, Mrs. Shepard explained that contrary to some of the praise given her son, Matt was no saint. "I tried very hard to take away that saint-like persona they've given him." Shepard has in previous interviews explained her fears that Matt is being put on too high a pedestal, rather than being treated as a human being who had flaws just like anyone else. "Matt was not a saint," Shepard said, "he was a young kid in search of his life." But, she added, "he was always a saint to me." |
Judy Shepard (right) with her husband, discusses the impact of their son's death with Dateline NBC 
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