Never Forget

[mamajoan]

Seven years ago today, Matthew Shepard died. He was brutally, horribly murdered for the "crime" of liking boys. Let's never forget that in America in the 1990s and 2000s, there are (were) so many people who think (thought) that beating a 21-year-old kid to death for being gay was okay. If you don't think that is okay, today would be a good day to speak up and say so.

Next time you hear someone use the word "gay" to mean bad or stupid, speak up. Next time you hear someone insult someone else by calling them a "fag," speak up. And if you're fortunate enough to count any gay teenagers among your acquaintances, how about calling/emailing them today to say something positive? Something as simple as a, "I think you're a great person and I'm glad to know you" can go a long way.

(big hugs to big_al81!)

Comments

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

horribly murdered for the "crime" of liking boys.

Just to be pedantic, he was murdered for the "crime" of liking men. liking BOYS is, and should be a crime, just as an adult liking girls is, and should be a crime. Granted, he was only 21, but there's enough people who conflate homosexuality with child abuse that there's no reason to add to it by saying that he liked "boys".

[mamajoan.livejournal.com]

OK, you have a point, but first of all, I think of Matthew as a boy (anyone under 25 is a kid to me ;) ), and second, "likes boys" is a phrase that a lot of gay guys use to describe themselves. It's a slangy thing, not really an age descriptor.

[lbmango.livejournal.com]

I understand, but if we're trying to fight the unfortunate slang re-taking of the word "fag" (remember, it was THEIR word first before it was adopted by the queer community...) we have to be careful about our own use of slang, especially when it feeds so directly into unfortunate (and false) stereotypes.

Then again, I'm the guy who frosh year tried to make PC stand for "politically conscious", so I guess I've always been a bit quixotic...

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

You know, just before I read your post, I'd just been writing a longish comment in someone else's journal (on a completely different topic) that had at one point segued into my recollections of how bad it was being a queer teenager, and about my three friends/lovers who killed themselves during my high school years.

And three days ago would have been the 48th birthday of one of my closed friends, who was killed 12 years ago because he was gay.

Thanks for saying what you did.

[morgan-dhu.livejournal.com]

Freudian slips, anyone?

One of my closest friends, whose story is now closed.

[big-al81.livejournal.com]

*big hugs back*

Can you believe it's been eight years since I thought my world was going to end and there was no turning back? It's odd being where I am now (basically married with two dogs, two cats, and a mortgage), and thinking back to that time of my life where I never thought I'd be accepted, let alone find someone to share my life with.

I am so greatful to you and everyone else who wouldn't just let me give up and throw my life away, because if I had, I would never be where I am today.

*more big hugs* You're totally awesome in my book.