Thanks to Bizzy Blog for this story which I had not recalled.
New Details Emerge in Matthew Shepard Murder
Six years ago, on a cold October night on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyo., 21-year-old gay college student Matthew Shepard was brutally beaten, tied to a fence and left for dead. He was found 18 hours later and rushed to the hospital, where he lingered on the edge of death for nearly five days before succumbing to his injuries.
The story garnered national attention when the attack was characterized as a hate crime. But Shepard's killers, in their first interview since their convictions, tell "20/20's" Elizabeth Vargas that money and drugs motivated their actions that night, not hatred of gays.
While Shepard lay unconscious in a hospital, the national press quickly arrived in Laramie. Cal Rerucha, who prosecuted the case, told Vargas the media descended on Laramie "like locusts."
"We knew in the newsroom the day it happened, this is going to be a huge story, this is going to attract international interest," said Jason Marsden of "The Casper Star-Tribune."
"I remember one of my fellow reporters saying, 'this kid is going to be the new poster child for gay rights," he added. News of Shepard's death sparked reaction overseas and demonstrations across America.
That a human was brutally murdered is tragic. That his death was used and twisted for personal and political gain is equally tragic.
Once the emotional political agenda faded from the story many other facts that told a different story started to emerge, but that hasn't stopped Congress, the media and the gay community from using a drug related murder to violate the First Amendment and continue to push an agenda that our country does not agree with.
Does that make us gay bashers? No.
Does it make this another lie driven piece of legislation for an over all agenda to further distort the core of America? Yes.
This is just another step to enlarge 'especially equal' voter blocks for the Democrat Party. It is smart politics, but unconstitutional and plain wrong.
Shame on those that prey on people. Shame on those that prey on society for political gain. Shame on all members that have or will vote for this legislation and any like it.
