The senseless death of Matthew Shepard for simply being himself

Twenty-five years ago, Matthew Shepard lost his life to a brutal act of hate and violence that shocked the world. Matthew was viciously attacked in a horrific anti-gay hate crime and left to die—simply for being himself.

I visited Matthew Shepard’s resting place in St. Joseph’s Chapel at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. His urn niche is near that of deaf and blind advocate Helen Keller, who is also inurned there.

I remember Matthew during Pride Month and beyond. He would have been 47.

1976-1998

Message from clergy at Washington Cathedral:

As the final resting place of Matthew Shepard, this Cathedral is committed to being a House of Prayer for All People, no exceptions. Our convictions are simple: Love is love. Love is from God. And if something isn’t rooted in love, it isn’t from God.