The Meaning of Matthew

I can't recommend highly enough a recent book, The Meaning of Mathew, by Judy Shepard, the mother of Matthew Shepard, a young college student who was brutally murdered 11 years ago in Wyoming simply because he was gay. Judy's book shares Matthew's story in a profoundly moving way, simply sharing who Matthew was to her and her family and how some degree of good and hope has come from this tragedy through The Matthew Shepard Foundation, which Judy and her family set up to work for justice and equality for the LGBT community and an end to hate and prejudice.

I highly recommend this book as a way to understand the struggles the LGBT community has gone through in the last decade and the promise and hope we feel for the future despite the sadnesses and tragedies that have occurred in our community.

Finally, I share the above video from the Ellen DeGeneres show as an example of the work of advocacy that Judy Shepard has been engaged in since her son's death. Like Ellen, I too started to cry as I realized just how tragic this story is and yet also how much good has come from tragedy through the courage and witness of people like Judy Shepard.

With prayers for peace and an end to hate,
Padre Chuck