Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine: ACES Pillars Film Project Becca Elizabeth Margo Logan Summary ● Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine is a documentary that follows the life and death of Matt Shepard. Matt Shepard was an openly gay man that was murdered in October of 1998. His death in Wyoming sparked a national revolution that changed the way that gays were treated in America. In the beginning, we are shown the story of Matt’s childhood. Some of the people in his life were shown in the movie and they described the life of Matt that we were not able to see. In the end, we learn of the death of Matt and the aftermath of how his death affected the nation and helped pave the way for gay rights. Background ● Matt Shepard was born in Fort Collins, Colorado to Judy and Dennis Shepard and brother Logan Shepard. ● He attended a boarding school in Switzerland. ○ While on a trip to Morocco, he was raped. ● He struggled with depression, identity, and finding a place he felt like he belonged. ● He went to the University of Wyoming. ● On October 6, 1998 Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson followed Matt home from a pub and lured him into their car. ○ They ended up binding him to a fence, beating him, and leaving him to die. Positive Social Change ● Matt’s death ignited a push for revised hate crime legislation ○ At the time of the attack, crimes committed due to sexual orientation were not considered hate crimes in Wyoming ● Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act ○ Signed by Obama in 2009 ○ Criminalizes acts “committed because of the actual or perceived religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability” ○ Provided more funding for hate crime investigation ○ Based on the idea that hate crimes are a heightened form of crime for they stem from prejudice and lead to more psychological damage Advocacy ● Although Matt’s death was a tragedy, it gave his parents the opportunity to advocate for LGBTQ youth rights, with Judy Shepard at the forefront of this cause. ● Matthew Shepard Foundation ○ Founded in December 1998 ○ Mission statement: “to erase hate by replacing it with understanding, compassion and acceptance” ○ Judy and Dennis Shepard travel and hold speaking engagements ○ Hate crime reporting initiative ○ LGBTQ blog ○ Coming out resources Community ● Matt’s family and close friends came together in grief after losing their fellow loved one, celebrating the positive aspects of his life and how selfless, caring, and kind he was. ● The tragic loss of this kind hearted, selfless boy united the LGBTQ community as they came together and protested hate crime. ● Churches and communities across the world held candlelight vigils in memory of Matt. Service ● The Matthew Shepard Foundation allows people to volunteer and do things like host housing parties to engage within their community and teach others about the foundation and how they are also able to help within their community. Social Change The film was made in 2014. ● Killed in 1998, Matt died around the same time that many of us were being born. We have been able to grow up in a society that has started to openly discuss the issues of hate crimes and discrimination. ● The film uses lots of home video footage to display the character of Matt Shepard. Family videos are slightly outdated today, but they give us a sense of nostalgia and memory of the past. ● As the film was made in 2014, it does not address recent advancements in the movement for gay rights such as the national legal right to same-sex marriage from 2015. Connection to the Film ● In college, surrounded by so much diversity, it is difficult for us to comprehend a place where someone who is different is a target for hate and crime. ● Matt initially had a fear of rejection from his family due to his homosexuality. We can relate by likely recently having experienced a change in the support systems in our life and how it affects us (family, friends from home). ● Matt had dreams and goals from a young age, and he knew that he was bigger than Casper, Wyoming. We are all in college to accomplish something, and the movie shows how quickly our dreams can be taken away from us. ● We are so caught up in college and our daily routines that we may forget to relax and enjoy life which is so precious and fragile. Critiques ● The film failed to give much explanation of the creation of the Matthew Shepard Foundation and what it does to help others. ● Although made in 2014, the film did not discuss the more recent laws and rights relating to the gay rights movement. ● That being said, the film ultimately does a good job bringing attention to the injustices faced by the LGBTQ community through a more personable approach to the topic. Who would benefit from watching? ● So many people can benefit from this movie, but the one audience that would benefit the most would be the gay community. This movie not only tells the tragic death of Matt Shepard, but it also shows how people come together in order to get justice for Matt. This documentary shows how people of all backgrounds come together for a common goal. Call for Action ● End hate ● Embrace diversity ● Mercy ● Cherish friends and family ● Silver lining ● “Be understanding and accepting of people who are different” -Matt’s Mother Film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vSY7dW0CJs Trailer: Sources ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Shepard ● https://www.matthewshepard.org/about-us/ ● http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/19/us/lgbt-rights-milestones-fast-facts/index.html ● https://www.justice.gov/crt/matthew-shepard-and-james-byrd-jr-hate-crimes-prevention-act-20 09-0 ● https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2014/07/23/op-ed-why-gay-panic-defense-must-go.