Carrying On Her Son's Legacy

On October 7, 1998 Matthew Shepard was pistol-whipped until his skill collapsed and then tied to a fence in freezing temperatures like a scare-crow. A bicyclist riding by early the next morning, thought it was a scare-crow but decided to take a closer look. He discovered Matthew Shepard barely hanging on to life. Matthew passed away later in a hospital. It's a crime that gripped the Nation.

Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother has been traveling the country carrying on her son's legacy. She has become an advocate for the gay community in pushing for hate crime legislation to be pushed through Congress. Mrs. Shepard had no idea on October 6, 1998 that she would be pushed into the National spotlight. She probably had no idea the public recognition and probably unwanted fame that would change her life forever.

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Mrs. Shepard on Saturday night at the HRC annual dinner here in Las Vegas. It was truly the highlight of the evening for me. I approached her after the dinner was over with a dear friend Eddie. Eddie told me to push through to meet her, but I patiently waited until the two gentleman were done. Mrs. Shepard noticed me behind them and graciously excused herself to come over and meet me.

I told her that I get to share her son's story at least once a week sometimes twice a week in a leadership workshop I train for MGM MIRAGE. I explained that I had researched Matthew and came across a story about how loving and kind he was and he wasn't in favor of the death penalty. When James Byrd Jr. was dragged to his death behind a pickup truck in Jasper, Texas. Matthew and his father talked about what happened to Mr. Byrd and he asked Matthew what he thought and Matthew said he felt the death penalty should be sought for them. Matthew not knowing that just a few months later would also be killed in a similar hate crime that would again grab national attention.

My friend Eddie said as I was talking to Judy Shepard, he noticed she got a little watery eyed. I told her that I love sharing the story about her son because I get to touch people's hearts on a weekly basis. I can't imagine the pain this woman has gone through losing Matthew the way she did, but I'm glad she's taken a firm stand for him. No matter what Fred Phelps has had on his website about Matthew, I know he's in heaven looking down on his mother with great pride.

As I say in my classes, "I believe everyone has a soul and when we let hate no matter how small into that soul, it spreads like a cancer and kills off our soul." We have no room in our hearts and souls for hate.