As I posted on Friday, in honor of Matthew’s memory and the legacy he has left behind, we at GLAAD launched a project to get those stories told - to look at where we were ten years ago, where we are today and where we still need to go.
Collaborating with folks from across the country we went to work writing, editing and pitching editorials and op-ed pieces to newspapers in almost every state in the nation.
This comprehensive approach - to tell Matthew's story nation-wide, but uniquely in different communities around the country - is intended to raise awareness on the local level of the continued violence against gay and transgender people.
Below are some of the placements GLAAD has helped to secure this week. We will be posting more as the become available to us online.
ALABAMA
"Alabama Voices: Expand Alabama Statute" by Danny Upton, Executive Director of Equality Alabama Montgomery Advertiserhttp://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081007/OPINION0101/810070301/1006/OPINION
"State's hate-crime law not inclusive" by Danny Upton, Executive Director of Equality Alabama Birmingham Newshttp://www.al.com/opinion/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/122319450782970.xml&coll=2ALASKA
"Remembering Matthew Shepard" by Leslie Wood Juneau Empirehttp://juneauempire.com/stories/101208/opi_343196289.shtmlCALIFORNIA
"Fear, ignorance, hatred take lives of Shepard and King" by Jay Smith, Executive Director of the Ventura County Rainbow Alliance in Ventura Ventura County Starhttp://www.venturacountystar.com/news/2008/oct/05/fear-ignorance-hatred-take-lives-of-shepard-and/COLORADO
"Ten years after Matthew Shepard, no change" by Monica Zapata, sister of hate crime victim Angie Zapata Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_10661633
"A hate crime remembered" Editorial inspired by GLAAD's recent work with the paper Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_10671319
"Judy Shepard statement on the 10th anniversary of Matthew's death" by Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard Rocky Mountain Newshttp://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/oct/09/judy-shepard-statement-10th-anniversary-matthews-d/CONNECTICUT
"Stand Against Hate Crimes: On Shepard Killing Anniversary, Federal Law Still Needed" By Rev. Terry Davis, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Hartford Hartford Couranthttp://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-commentarydavis1012.artoct12,0,7489785.storyOKLAHOMA
"It's time for Oklahoma to act" by Laura Belmonte, President of Oklahomans for Equality Tulsa Worldhttp://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/article.aspx?subjectID=65&articleID=20081009_65_A13_Tiekay288739MARYLAND
"10 Years After Matthew Shepard" by Mark Jason McLaurin, Director of Legislative Affairs, Public Justice Center Baltimore Examinerhttp://www.baltimoreexaminer.com/opinion/Ten_years_after_Matthew_Shepard.htmlMISSISSIPPI
"Remembering Matthew Shepard" by Jamie Carter, Vice-President of the University of Mississippi Gay Straight Alliance The Daily Mississippianhttp://www.thedmonline.com/remembering_matthew_shepardMONTANA
Letter: Shepard's death galvanized a movement by Ken Spencer The Missoulianhttp://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/10/12/letters/more/letters83.txtSOUTH CAROLINA
"Ten years later, still no hate crime law" by Elke Kennedy, mother of hate crime victim Sean Kennedy The Statehttp://www.thestate.com/editorial-columns/story/548100.html
"South Carolina still doesn't have a hate crimes law" by Elke Kennedy Greenville Newshttp://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081011/OPINION/810110311/1004/NEWS01UTAH
"Remembering Matthew Shepard" by Milton Monson The Salt Lake Tribunehttp://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_10697785?source=emailVERMONT
"My Turn: Pass law to protect LGBTQ people" by Kara DeLeonardis, Executive Director of RU12? Community Center in Burlington Burlington Free Presshttp://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081010/OPINION/810100303VIRGINIA
"Virginia doesn't protect gays" by Dyana Mason and Mark E. Board, Executive Director and Board Chairman of Equality Virginia The Roanoke Timeshttp://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/179597
October 13, 2008
