Melissa Etheridge Scarecrow- Matthew Shepard Tribute

Matthew Shepard did not die in vain and his legacy still lives today

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Matthew Shepard
• Scarecrow
• Melissa Etheridge

[pokerbaby7]

13 years ago this evening, Matthew Shepard was beaten, tortured and left to die on a fence in a field in Laramie, Wyoming. He was tied to the fence for 18 hours before he was discovered, and died five days later in the hospital. Just for being gay. This was THE crime that changed our generation and galvanized people from Sea to Shining Sea to call for change, and CHANGE NOW. STOP THE HATE. STOP THE VIOLENCE. START THE LOVE.

[waterONTHEsun]

"I know I'm bound for Heaven, because I've done my time in Hell."

Poor Matthew. Dang, what an evil, horrible world we live in. Matthew caught all kinds of Hell all through his short life, only to catch even more Hell on the day of his funeral. What the hell is the matter with the human race?! We are supposed to be unequal to the animals for the better, not the worse. Sometimes humans stoop LOWER than the animals. What a crying, disgusting shame.

[rememberdecember25]

This song is hauntingly beautiful. Someday we will open our eyes and see the cruelty we have done and hopefully we can make a difference.

[PrairieOasos]

The Federal Hate Crimes law -- proposed in response to some high profile hate crimes, including the kidnapping/murder of Shepard -- did EVENTUALLY pass. Basically it adds sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, being a veteran to the current hate crimes law.

[lomani57]

I am a heterosexual male, and when I was in High School, I was beaten up several times just because they THOUGHT I was gay. I didn't hate them then, and I don't hate them now...I actually pity them for being raised in a home full of such hate. I have a dream that one day that everyone will have equal rights, as far as marriage and the such. I have several family members that are gay, and I don't think, look, or treat them any different than the members of my family that are heterosexual.

[JennyTalkHusky]

@greatestone00 As a queer person, I thank you for your kind words, but I just wanted to tweak a part of your comment: "the good fight" part. I would hardly say that queer people are fighting "the good fight" in fighting for their rights because it is entirely motivated by selfishness, albeit a selfishness that is entirely justified. I would say that straight allies could be said to be in a "good fight" because they do not directly gain from their efforts.

[raskitts77]

this song is so....meaningful. Im glad my school is doing Laramie Project... teach us all something about life

[greatestone00]

To the heterosexuals reading this, remember that you also may belong to a group that was once oppressed and others that were unlike you fought for your human rights and dignity. Please return the favor. We all share this one Earth and no one is going anywhere. So let's all just get along and enjoy the ride together.

[greatestone00]

To all the homosexuals all over the world who are shunned, harassed, persecuted, ridiculed, bullied, oppressed, jailed, tortured, and/or murdered for being born who you are: Keep fighting for your human rights and dignity. You are fighting the good fight. One day bigotry and hate will fade into the shadows and the world will be much brighter.

[pokerbaby7]

@oldcans1 I heard that the guys responsible admited they thought he was gay and would be an easy target. They also admited calling him names like "fag" while attacking him. Call it what YOU want, but it sounds like a hate crime to me.

[oldcans1]

@janellej86 These kinds of senseless killing are happening everyday and you don't hear about all those other people---I guess they just weren't gay so they don't matter....

[oldcans1]

@pokerbaby7 Matthew was beaten and robbed. It just so happened he was gay, it wasn't a "hate" crime as everyone and the media has blown this thing into. RIP Matthew.