By Peter Baumann
Laramie Boomerang, September 28, 2008
UW dedicates bench in honor of Matthew Shepard
On a sunny fall day in Laramie, it’s too easy to forget that nearly 10 years ago the life of Matthew Shepard ended brutally, tied to a desolate fence outside of town. No one who had never met him will get the chance. No one who never heard his voice will know what it sounded like. And for those who knew, it’s important that the community of Laramie never forget what tragic consequences bubble forth out of ignorance and intolerance.
These are the things that people will hopefully think about when they take a seat on the bench with his name on it at Quealy Plaza that was dedicated in his memory Saturday morning.
Under the close eye of the media with police officers idling near the outer circle of the crowd that gathered that day, University of Wyoming President Tom Buchanan and Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mom, spoke about the past and the future of that fatal event that shocked not only this small town on the plains, but the state and nation as well.
“Prejudice exits in America, but it need not define who we are,” Buchanan said. “Prejudice is the exception, not the rule.”
Moods and emotions were subdued at the dedication. Governor Dave Freudenthal and wife, Nancy, stood close by, listening to Buchanan and Shepard’s parents speak.
Buchanan said that while progress has been made in the fight against intolerance — citing the creation of the Shepard Symposium and the Rainbow Resource Center that provides support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered students — it is a battle that must be waged diligently.
“Through our actions, we continue to demonstrate that diversity and inclusion are core values at UW,” Buchanan said. “Just as we live with the loss of Matt, we live every day at UW committed to the idea that we treat all with dignity and respect. A memorial bench can serve as a reminder of that commitment, but we must continue to work hard to make it a reality.”
Despite the progress that has been made, Judy Shepard expressed disappointment that the state of Wyoming has yet to pass any hate crime laws.
“But I’m confident that as the Equality State, we can move forward, set an example and really make a statement about what it means to be equal to everybody else,” Shepard said.
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