A life taken, a nation awakened

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of anti-LGBTQ violence, sexual assault, and graphic descriptions of Matthew Shepard’s injuries. Please listen with care and use discretion if these topics may be triggering.

• Discussion of Rape: [10:22-12:05]
• Description of Physical Assault & Torture: [20:36 – 22:56]
• Gore & Description of Bodily Injury: [22:55 – 24:01]
• Mention of Anti-gay Slurs & Westboro Baptist Church: [28:33 – 28:56]  

In this somber episode of Dot Femme, Claire and Dany spend a long night in Laramie, Wyoming to revisit the story of Matthew Shepard.

Matthew was a young gay man whose life was filled with kindness, adventure, and a belief in the power of acceptance. In October 1998, his brutal murder exposed the reality of anti-LGBTQ violence in America — a reality many preferred to ignore.

We trace Matthew’s life, the events of that night, and the aftermath: the trials, the protests, and the long fight for hate crime legislation that would eventually bear his name. We also reflect on Matthew’s enduring legacy — from his parents’ activism, to his resting place in the National Cathedral, to the ongoing work of the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

This is not an easy story to tell, but it is one we must continue to remember.

Resources & Further Reading:

• Matthew Shepard Foundation
• Matt Shepard Is A Friend of Mine (indie documentary)
• Matthew Shepard: An American Hate Crime (HBO Documentary)
• Always Matt: A Tribute to Matthew Shepard by Lesléa Newman

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Music by Master Planned Music.

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