History

In the late 90s, a story gained international news coverage: The story of a young student who was tortured and then murdered for being gay in America. This story was the story of Matthew Shepard:

Matthew Shepard was a young student in Wyoming, America. He was also a gay man. On 6th October 1998, two men approached Matthew at a bar and after a discussion he agreed to get a lift home with them. Instead they beat him senseless resulting in multiple life-threatening injuries, tortured him and then left him to die in agony. They robbed Matthew, tied him to a fence and left him to die.

Matthew was left there, drifting in and out of consciousness for 18 hours. Matthew was then discovered by a cyclist who called the Police. Matthew was still alive, barely, but had slipped into a coma after being in what must have been in excruciating pain. Matthew had two skull fractures, which had left his brain too damaged to keep his heart beating and lungs breathing independently. In the days that followed, Matthew never regained consciousness and on 12th October 1998, at the age of just 21 years old he died.

The perpetrators of Matthew’s brutal and shocking murder admitted that his sexuality and their plans to rob him were their motivations for the attack and eventual murder. It later came out that they had pretended to be gay in order to gain his trust and persuade him to go with them. They both received life sentences without the opportunity for parole.

Matthews mother later set up The Matthew Shepard Foundation, in his memory. I’ve wanted to write Matthew’s story for a long time.

So, why now? Because with Donald Trump as President of America, I fear there will be another Matthew Shepard in America.

Donald Trump is already targeting the LGBT community with his rhetoric. And. He’s. Only. Just. Got. Power. I can only see Donald Trump’s behaviour getting worse.

I find it absolutely incredible that Donald Trump got into power once, let alone again. Donald Trump is a billionaire and influential man. I hope the American democracy isn’t as corrupt as it looks from the outside right now. I also hope, but highly doubt, that other leaders of the world will pull him up on his bad behaviour towards the LGBT community.

Write soon,

Antony