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Mathew Shepard was killed 7 years ago today.
His murderers both copped pleas, and are serving consecutive life sentences in an undisclosed prison.
Later that year, the Wyoming legislature refused to enact a hate-crimes bill that was introduced in response to the killing. Federal efforts for a similar bill also failed within the year, thanks in no small part to the intervention of Trent Lott, who was all for a hate crimes bill when it was only protecting women and jews and even blacks, but throw in the queers and you get nowhere.
As a final, minor, ignorable-except-for-its-crass-fuck-knobbery point, Fred Phelps, Supreme Wingnut and Founder of the Westboro Baptist church, led a contingent of protesters to wave signs and shout slogans at Matthew's funeral.
His murderers both copped pleas, and are serving consecutive life sentences in an undisclosed prison.
Later that year, the Wyoming legislature refused to enact a hate-crimes bill that was introduced in response to the killing. Federal efforts for a similar bill also failed within the year, thanks in no small part to the intervention of Trent Lott, who was all for a hate crimes bill when it was only protecting women and jews and even blacks, but throw in the queers and you get nowhere.
As a final, minor, ignorable-except-for-its-crass-fuck-knobbery point, Fred Phelps, Supreme Wingnut and Founder of the Westboro Baptist church, led a contingent of protesters to wave signs and shout slogans at Matthew's funeral.
