HUNTINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA - Equality was the message that carried through the Don Morris room on Marshall University's campus Wednesday night.Judy Shepard visited the campus to speak about the legacy of her son Matthew Shepard, who died in 1998 after being brutally attacked because he was gay. The attack in Laramie, Wyo., made national headlines and led to a play and movie called "The Laramie Project."
Marshall's event on Wednesday was open to students, faculty, staff and members of the community.
Ashley Fry, a freshman at MU, said she came to hear Shepard because she had friends who had witnessed a hate crime.
"Back in 2000, a friend of mine was beat up because he was a different color," Fry said. "I came here to support the cause. My major is social work, and I know there needs to be some change."
The room was packed full with people of all ages.
Douglas Evans, Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender Outreach Office director, said he was pleased with the turnout.
"Whenever we have done things like this in the past, Judy has always been requested," Evans said. "There have been certain hate crimes here in the past, and the town he was from is like ours in some ways."
Shepard said she feels her son with her every day. Her hope, she said, is to use the voice his death has given to her.
"I am not a professional speaker," Shepard said. "I am a mom."
The event was sponsored by the Marshall University Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgender Outreach Office and the Office of Multicultural Affairs, with additional support from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission's social justice grant program.
from The Herald-Dispatch
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