We are all Matthew Shepard

On Monday, October 12th, 1998, 7:30pm PDT, QMUG/LA noted the passing of Matthew Shepard. Neither QMUG/LA’s officers nor its membership knew Matthew, but like the rest of the world, we were saddened by his passing and outraged by the circumstances that led to it. Much has been said and written already about these circumstances, mostly by people who also did not know Matthew directly. From all this media attention, one message that was most touching was from Matthew’s parents while Matthew was in critical condition, and it is with that message that we would like to remember Matthew Shepard.

 

"The following statement from the parents was read to members

of the media waiting outside of the hospital at 6pm October

10.  The parents chose not to read the statement, so it was

read by Rulon Stacey, president and CEO of Poudre Valley Health

System, at their request.

 

"First of all, we want to thank the American public for their

kindthoughts about Matthew and their fond wishes for his speedy

recovery.  We appreciate your prayers and good will, and we

know they are something Matthew would appreciate, too.

 

"Matthew is a very special person, and everyone can learn

important lessons from his life.  All of us who know Matthew see

him as he is, a very kind and gentle soul.  He is a strong

believer in humanity and human rights.  He is a trusting person

who takes everybody at face value and he does not see the bad

side of anyone.

 

"His one intolerance is when people don't accept others as they

are.  He has always strongly felt that all people are the same

-- regardless of their sexual preference, race or religion.

 

"We know he believes that all of us are part of the same family

called Humanity, and each and everyone of us should treat all

people with respect and dignity, and that each of us has the

right to live a full and rewarding life.  That is one lesson

which we are very certain he would share with you, if he could.

 

"Matthew also feels strongly about family.  He is a loving son,

brother and grandson who has made our own lives much richer and

fuller than what we would have experienced without him.

 

"Matthew's life has often been a struggle in one way or

another.  He was born prematurely, and he struggled to survive

as an infant.  He is physically short in stature but we believe

he is a giant when it comes to respecting the worth of others. 

We know that he thinks if he can make one person's life better

in this world, then he has succeeded.  That is a measure of

success which Matthew has always pursued.

 

"Matthew very much enjoys the outdoors and camping, and he has

always loved acting in the theatre -- he started acting in

community theatre at the age of five.  Acting and the theatre

arts are skills at which Matthew excels.

 

"He knows he's not the best athlete in the world but he has a

very competitive spirit.  One time he participated in the

Wyoming State Games.  He had a respectable finish in a running

competition and then he decided to compete in a swimming

event.  He did this even though he knew he would likely finish

last.  Which he did.  Afterwards, he acknowledged to us that he

knew his chances of winning were far from good but he wasn't

going to let that stop him from trying.  That's Matthew's

lesson for all of us -- it's lesson that we hope everyone takes

to heart.

 

"Matthew has traveled all over the world.  He speaks three

languages: English, German and Italian.  He loves Europe, but

he also loves Laramie and the University of Wyoming.  We feel

that, if he was giving this statement himself, he would

emphasize he does not want the horrible actions of a few very

disturbed individuals to mar the fine reputations of Laramie or

the university.

 

"Finally, we would like to thank the sheriff's department of

Albany County, Wyoming, and Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort

Collins for their very professional efforts on Matthew's behalf.

 

"We also have a special request for the members of the media. 

Matthew is very much in need of his family at this time, and we

ask that you respect our privacy, as well as Matthew's so we

can concentrate all of our efforts, thoughts and love on our

son.

 

"Thank you very much."