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Transcript of MSF Digital/Presentational Brochure
E S T . DEC EMBER 1 9 9 8REPLACING HATE WITH UNDERSTANDING,COMPASSION AND ACCEPTANCE
© 1995 Gina van Hoof
The Matthew Shepard
Foundation's longstanding
mission is to erase hate by
replacing it with understanding,
compassion and acceptance.
Through local, regional and
national outreach, we empower
individuals to find their voice to
create change and challenge
communities to identify and
address hate that lives within
their schools, neighborhoods
and homes.
Understanding
Compassion
Acceptance
and
Where To Reach Us
303.830.7400
MatthewShepard.org
303.830.6952
@MattShepardFDN
mattshepardfdn
/Matthew.Shepard.Foundation
MattShepardFDN
For program inquiries, [email protected]
For communication inquires andmedia requests, contact
For General Information, fill out ourform at MatthewShepard.org/Request-
Information
Discover ways you can participate withthe Foundation by emailing
To coordinate or host an event tobenefit the Foundation, [email protected]
MATTHEW'S STORY AND THE FOUNDATION'SFORMATION
On October 7, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a gay 21yearold student at the University of Wyoming,was brutally attacked and tied to a fence in a field outside of Laramie, Wyoming, and left to die.On October 12, Matt succumbed to his wounds in a hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado.
In the aftermath of Matt’s death, his parents Judy and Dennis Shepard started the MatthewShepard Foundation to honor his life and aspirations. Because of the tragedy the Shepardsendured, the Foundation’s beginning principle was to encourage parents whose children may beLGBTQ+ or questioning to love and accept them, not throw them away.
Through their personal appearances across the country and around the world, Judy and DennisShepard share Matt’s story to highlight the importance of standing up for the LGBT community.Since our formation, the Foundation has centered its efforts on providing a voice and support forLGBTQ+ people and all who are marginalized.
It is our sincerest hope that, one day, the Foundation may be able to close its doors. But the samehate and violence that spurred our formation still exists today, both at home and abroad. We willcontinue to work tirelessly to ensure safety, visibility and inclusiveness for the entire LGBTcommunity until that ideal becomes reality.
THE CHALLENGES WE FACE
In a postmarriage equality society, it's vital we don't lose focus
on the issues that continue to threaten the rights and lives of
the LGBTQ+ community.
Lapse in hatecrime law enforcement
Employment and housing discrimination
Disproportionate violence against transgender people
Bullying, suicide and self harm
Lack of access to healthcare and social programs
OUR WORK
The Shepards Speak Hate Crimes Reporting
Laramie Project Support MatthewsPlace.com
is an extension of Matt's passion to foster a more caring and just world. We share his storyand embody his vigor for civil rights to change the hearts and minds of others to accept
everyone as they are.
The Shepards Speak
Since the death of their son Matthew in
1998, Judy and Dennis Shepard have
been determined to prevent others from
experiencing similar tragedies. By sharing
Matt's story and their experience as the
family of a hate crime victim, the Shepards
are able to carry on Matt's legacy and help
change the hearts and minds of others to
create a more understanding, accepting
and compassionate community.
Contact us at [email protected] with questions
about availability and pricing for Judy and Dennis' speaking
engagement.
Hate Crimes Reporting
For nearly a decade after Matt's death, Judy and Dennis Shepard advocated passage of
the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which was signed
into law in 2009 by President Barack Obama. It expanded federal hate crimes laws to
include crimes with bias toward sexual orientation, disability, gender and gender identity
or expression. The Foundation continues to work to improve the law's enforcement
and the accuracy of hate crimes data that local law enforcement agencies report to the
FBI.
Our work to improve hatecrime reporting includes:
Conducting trainings on state and federal hate crimes laws for law enforcement agencies
Creating and partnering with local, citizenled coalitions that directly address issues of
hate crimes reporting and awareness
Building relationships between community leaders and law enforcement officials
Developing and encouraging policy reform in hate crimes reporting practices
For more information on coordinating officer trainings or raising awareness in your community,email us at [email protected]
Laramie Project Support
The Matthew Shepard Foundation offers support to
productions of The Laramie Project. After Matthew’smurder in 1998, members of the New York Citybased
Tectonic Theatre Company traveled to Laramie,
Wyoming, to interview residents about how the brutal
hate had affected the town. These transcripts were
transformed into the play The Laramie Project, whichremains one of the most performed plays in America.
The issues of hate and intolerance in this play are,
unfortunately, still relevant in today’s society, and its
message for communities to address this hate is vital in
our mission to erase it.
Our Laramie Project & Programs Specialist, Susan
Burk, combines her personal connection to Matt’s story
and theatre background to provide historical and cultural
context to those producing The Laramie Project andThe Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.
VisitMatthewShepard.org/Laramie
ProjectSupport for moreinformation.
If you have questions, contactSusan Burk at
MatthewsPlace.com
MatthewsPlace.com is a website designed to provide young people with the
resources they need to thrive in this world, make a difference, and gain tools
to lead healthy, productive, hatefree lives. It provides a wealth of materials
including regular blogs from a dedicated group of young people making a
difference in their own communities. Matthew’s Place features interviews with
individuals in the LGBTQ+ and allied community and a list of shelters,
outreach centers and empowerment programs that are welcoming of youth
regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
To submit your story, go toMatthewsPlace.com/Stories/Share
Questions? Contact us [email protected]
GET INVOLVED
Support our programs as a volunteer, invite us to speak at your place of employment, or
help at one of our many events. Contact us at [email protected].
The Foundation hosts fundraising activities throughout the country. Either inperson or
online, we encourage your participation with:
Coordinating functions in your community
Private fundraisers, i.e. weddings, walks, etc.
Online PeertoPeer fundraising
MSF’s annual October gala in Denver
To further support our events and fundraising efforts, contact
our Development Director at [email protected].