This site was originally created as a supplement to Matthew's Place, which is owned by Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother. The site is now the Stophate memorial to Matthew Shepard. Other memorials to the victims of hate crimes can be found at the Stophate web site. This site is both a memorial and a resource for information about human rights, gay rights, and hate crimes issues. Please visit the Matthew Shepard Foundation for information on giving contributions, etc.

On October 6, 1998, Matthew was beaten and tied to a fence just outside of Laramie, Wyoming. Yet, this one tragic event shook the nation. It may have been due to the fact that this murder took place in small town America, as well as a college town. Matthew was a student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie. Even now, it is not fully clear what went on that night of October 6, 1998, but it appears to be a combination robbery and gay-bashing.

Even though it has been over five years since Matthew's death, violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender as well as toward minorities continues unabated. This being the case, it is important that as many sites such as this be made available to keep the awareness of this serious problem before the public. In election years, it is all the more important that these issues are addressed by our future leaders.

Even though Matthew's murder appears to have been motivated in part due to his being gay, this site exists as a resource for all human rights issues, not just those of the LGBT people.