Political Quotes

“Thank you, Mr. President. I rise to speak to commemorate the horrific death of Matthew Shepard 20 years ago. On October 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard, then a 21-year-old student at the University of Wyoming, was kidnapped, brutally beaten, and left tied to a fence in a field outside of Laramie, WY. He passed away 5 days later in a hospital. Matthew was attacked because of his sexual orientation. His murder was an act of pure evil, borne of hate. Since his passing, Matthew's family has worked to share his story in the hope that no other family suffers a similar tragedy. His parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, started the Matthew Shepard Foundation to honor the life and aspirations of their son. Judy has made countless personal appearances around the country and around the world, sharing Matthew's story, to shine a light on the importance of supporting the LGBT community and eradicating hate. She has relived the horror of his death so that others may not ever know such pain. I had the opportunity in 2005 to meet Judy Shepard here in Washington, and I was impressed and inspired by her strength. The foundation that the Shepard family has organized has worked to end hate in all forms around the country, starting dialogues at schools, corporations, and communities to promote human dignity for all individuals.…”