President Biden Urges Continued Fight Against LGBTQ+ Hate, Honoring Matthew Shepard’s Legacy
President Joe Biden has called for the ongoing battle against LGBTQ+ hate, using Matthew Shepard’s legacy as inspiration. Commemorating the 25th anniversary of Shepard’s death, President Biden issued a statement highlighting the need to combat hate crimes and violence targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
Matthew Shepard was a gay student at the University of Wyoming who tragically lost his life in 1998 when he was severely beaten and left to die in Laramie, Wyoming. The Hate Crimes Prevention Act, named after Shepard, was enacted during the Obama-Biden administration to honor his memory. This legislation included sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability coverage in hate crime law.
President Biden emphasized the significance of Shepard’s murder, stating that it shook the conscience of the American people. He praised Shepard’s parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, for transforming their son’s memory into a movement that united millions of individuals in the fight against anti-LGBTQ+ hate and violence in America.
Despite progress, President Biden highlighted the current rise in threats and violence targeting the LGBTQ+ community and stressed that the work is far from finished. He called upon Congress to pass the Equality Act, indicating his readiness to sign the bill into law. This legislation would reinforce the protections provided in President Biden’s executive order, offering further safeguards for gay and transgender individuals.
Shepard’s burial took place in 2018, twenty years after his death, at the National Cathedral. Due to concerns over potential vandalism, his family had previously refrained from selecting a burial plot.
President Biden concluded his statement by expressing his hope that Shepard’s parents, Judy and Dennis, as well as all those who mourned him, would be blessed. Through his words, President Biden has underscored the importance of the ongoing fight against hate, violence, and bigotry, ensuring that no American should face discrimination based on who they are or whom they love.
In this poignant tribute to Matthew Shepard, President Biden has called upon the nation to continue striving for a more inclusive and tolerant society where LGBTQ+ individuals are protected from hate and violence. Through his support of the Equality Act, President Biden seeks to solidify the progress made, leaving a lasting legacy for future generations.
