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People are always asking me why I work so hard for gay visibility and gay
rights on our campus. They tell me that attitudes toward gay and lesbian
people have changed so much over the years and there really does not seem
to be much of a problem anymore. Why do people think that? How many people
outside of the gay community actually heard about what happened to Matthew
Shepard? And if they heard about it, how many actually paid attention and
thought about the implications of what happened? As gay and lesbian people
we are still considered outcasts in society and in many states we have no
protection against hate crimes. How many other minorities are protected
from hate crimes? Why are we not given that same protection? That is a
question that has no good answer. Even in my own state, Virginia, gay and
lesbian people are not protected from hate crimes. Matthew Shepard died
because our country allowed him to. Because we are not afforded the same
rights or protection as everyone else, and because so many people think that
the gay rights movement has ended. How can anyone think that the fight for
gay rights is over when a brutal and senseless murder like Shepard's occurs?
The fight is not over. It will not be over until we are afforded rights and
protection and until no more gay people are brutalized and turned into
Matthew Shepard. He has my utmost respect and admiration and will live as a
hero and martyr of sorts in the hearts and minds of many people.
Stephanie Doute
Bridges
Randolph-Macon Woman's College
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