Matthew Shepard

Matthew Shepard was a young gay man who became a symbol of the struggle against hate crimes in the United States. In October 1998, he was brutally attacked and murdered in Wyoming because of his sexual orientation. His death drew national attention and sparked outrage, highlighting the dangers faced by LGBTQ+ individuals. The tragedy led to increased advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and the eventual passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009, which expanded federal hate crime laws to include those motivated by sexual orientation and gender identity.