Today, the United States Senate took an historic step toward ensuring
justice for the victims of hate crimes targeted for violence due to
their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability.
"Dennis
and I are extremely proud of the Senate for once again passing this
historic measure of protection for victims of these brutal crimes,”
said Judy Shepard, president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation Board.
“Knowing that the president will sign it, unlike his predecessor, has
made all the hard work this year to pass it worthwhile. Hate crimes
continue to affect far too many Americans who are simply trying to live
their lives honestly, and they need to know that their government will
protect them from violence, and provide appropriate justice for victims
and their families."
By voting overwhelmingly to extend to these
often-targeted Americans our nation’s decades-old bias crime
legislation, senators sent the message that hate crimes will not go
unpunished, and local governments and law enforcement agencies will not
run out of financial resources to provide justice to these victims and
their loved ones.
The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Hate Crimes
Prevention Act was attached earlier this year to the annual Defense
Department spending bill, and Thursday’s 68-29 Senate vote to approve
the final House-Senate compromise on the defense bill now sends this
important law enforcement provision to President Obama, who has vowed
to sign it.
Under the legislation, federal prosecutors could
step in to try violent hate-crime cases if local authorities cannot or
will not secure an appropriate conviction. It also opens up federal
funding for law enforcement to handle the typically high cost of
investigation and judicial proceedings in such cases, and would make
grants available for training and prevention programs at the local
level.
The act is named to honor Matthew Shepard as well as
James Byrd, an African-American resident of Texas brutally dragged to
death in 1998 in a notorious hate crime. Matthew’s parents Dennis and
Judy Shepard have campaigned for the legislation’s passage for more
than a decade since their son’s murder in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1998 in
an anti-gay hate crime.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation applauds
Congress and President Obama for their steady and successful efforts
throughout 2009 to bring the legislation to this point. We eagerly
anticipate its final enactment and wish to thank the countless
organizations and individuals who have worked tirelessly for its
passage.
Judy Shepard on the Ellen DeGeneres Show!
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Judy Shepard’s Book Tour Continues with National Media Exposure Foundation Board President Judy Shepard embarked in September on a two-month national book tour to promote her new book "The Meaning of Matthew: My Son’s Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed," earning attention from several national media outlets. The book recounts Judy and Dennis Shepard’s remarkable journey from being parents to becoming nationally recognized leaders for civil rights not only for gay and lesbian people but for all who are marginalized because of their perceived differences. Appearing with Neal Conan on National Public Radio’s "Talk of the Nation" in an exclusive live interview and Q-and-A session, Judy Shepard recalled the shock her family experienced in becoming the subject of national and international interest, and their determination in the years since then to help people understand his true complexity as an individual. In a print debut, USA Today caught up with Judy in Cheyenne, Wyoming, recently where she was addressing a victim’s rights conference. The newspaper’s account included a glimpse of the book, a reporter’s visit to Laramie, and a look at the ongoing debate over the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Leading mass-market magazine Entertainment Weekly also chose The Meaning of Matthew as its book pick of the week. For much more coverage, visit the links below: The Entertainmently Weekly Book review The CBS Early Show Television interview The Miami Herald Newspaper Interview The Newsweek Interview |
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