The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed

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Grady Harp, March 7, 2010 (view all comments by Grady Harp)
An Homage and Call to Action

It is difficult to believe that the murder that shocked the world - the hate crime committed on Matthew Shepard - happened twelve years ago. The heinous torture and beating to death of a young lad just 21 years of age, left to suffer tied to a fence in Laramie, Wyoming in winter of 1998, all because of his sexual preference is still caught in the throats of all people who believe in human rights and the protection of every member of society despite their color, creed, social status or sexuality. What Judy Shepard has achieved in this fast reading, immensely gripping book is to allow us to examine all aspects of this crime in a way that only a member of a family of a victim could share. She writes well, shares the background of her firstborn son from his birth to his death, unafraid to reveal even those aspects of Matthew's behavior that make him seem less than a hero, is able to give a detailed account of the horrid incident that shook the world, and the subsequent trials of the two young men who killed Matthew, and yet manage to summarize he book with a plea for action to prevent such hate crimes from ever happening again.

Judy Shepard shares her alliance with the Human Rights Campaign and ultimately informs the reader about the Matthew Shepard Foundation. The focus of that foundation is '1. Erase Hate: Educating society about all aspects of hate - whether it's based on race, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. 2. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Equality and 3. Put Children First: the goal here is to educate the public on the needs of gay and lesbian youth.' Judy Shepard is a powerful spokesperson, more so because she is quietly solid in her plans and her demeanor and her writing. This is a testament to both Matthew Shepard and to all those people like Judy Shepard who fight to right the injustices of the world. Very Fine Book, this. Grady Harp

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Product Details

ISBN:

9781594630576

Author:

Shepard, Judy

Publisher:

Hudson Street Press

Subject:

Personal Memoirs

Subject:

United States - General

Subject:

Loss (psychology)

Subject:

Gay rights -- United States.

Subject:

Murder - General

Subject:

Biography - General

Copyright:

2009

Publication Date:

20090931

Binding:

HARDCOVER

Language:

English

Pages:

288

Dimensions:

9.02x6.36x1.11 in. 1.16 lbs.

Age Level:

14-13