Dennis Shepard
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Dennis Shepard (born November 1954) is the father of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at University of Wyoming who was murdered in October 1998 in what became one of the most high-profile hate crimes against LGBTQ people in the United States. He and his wife, Judy Shepard, are co-founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation,[1] and advocate for LGBT rights. He has been an advocate for parental support of LGBTQ children both during Matthew's life and, very publicly, since Matthew's death. He and Judy continue to live and work in Casper.[2]
Personal life
Born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Shepard earned a degree in education from the University of Wyoming before marrying Judy in 1973 and moving to Casper, Wyoming, in 1976. While they have also resided in Saudi Arabia, they have since returned to Casper, where they currently work and reside.[2][3] Dennis is the father of two sons, Matthew Wayne Shepard (1976–1998) and Logan Shepard (born 1981).[4][5]
Career
Shepard was an oil industry safety engineer,[6] Dennis worked for more than 16 years in safety operations for Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, before retiring from that position in 2009.[2]
Advocacy
He has served on the Matthew Shepard Foundation board of directors since the organization's inception and currently speaks to audiences around the country, particularly to victims' advocacy organizations and law enforcement audiences about his experiences and the importance of equal treatment of LGBTQ crime victims and their loved ones.[2][7] On March 20, 2007, the Matthew Shepard Act (Script error: No such module "Ordinal".-congress/house-bill/1592 H.R. 1592), a bill which would expand federal hate crimes legislation to include sexual orientation, was introduced as federal bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Congress, sponsored by Democrat John Conyers with 171 co-sponsors. Dennis and his wife, Judy, were present at the introduction ceremony. That bill did not pass however, after then-President George W. Bush threatened to veto the bill if it passed. On October 22, 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and on October 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law.[8][9]
Dennis and his wife Judy announced Wyoming's votes in the roll call at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.[10]
See also
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Becker, John M. (October 12, 2013). "In Memoriam: Matthew Shepard". Bilerico Project. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ a b c d Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Coast-to-Coast World Premiere Film Screening: Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine". Washington National Cathedral. 2013. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Judy Shepard Bio". Matthew Shepard Foundation. Archived from the original on May 24, 2010. Retrieved October 12, 2009.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Volin, Katherine (April 11, 2008). "At his brother's 'Place': Logan Shepard, brother of Matthew, debuts blog and goes to work for family's foundation". Washington Blade. Archived from the original on November 1, 2009.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."FAQs About Matthew". Matthew Shepard Foundation. Archived from the original on May 5, 2009.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Glionna, John M. (October 10, 2013). "15 years after Matthew Shepard's murder, his mother looks ahead". Los Angeles Times. Laramie, Wyoming. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Storrow, Benjamin (June 17, 2013). "The road to equality: Dennis and Judy Shepard are still fighting 15 years after their son's death". Casper Star-Tribune. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Obama Signs Hate Crimes Bill". The New York Times. 28 October 2009. Retrieved September 29, 2013.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act passes Congress, finally". Mercurynews.com. Retrieved December 30, 2012.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Staff (August 19, 2020). "Watch Full Roll Call at the 2020 Democratic National Convention". Chicago Sun-Times.
External links
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