In this true crime episode, we are discussing Matthew Shepard, a young gay man from Wyoming, USA, who became a symbol of hate crime victimization. His tragic death sparked widespread outrage and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, leading to the passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009, which expanded federal hate crime legislation to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

For more information please visit our citations:

Our story. Matthew Shepard Foundation. (2023, May 24). https://www.matthewshepard.org/about-us/our-story/

Encyclopædia Britannica, inc. (2023, June 20). Matthew Shepard. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Matthew-Shepard

Guardian News and Media. (2014, October 26). The truth behind America’s most famous gay-hate murder. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/oct/26/the-truth-behind-americas-most-famous-gay-hate-murder-matthew-shepard

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