The Washington National Cathedral has installed a plaque memorializing the life of Matthew Shepard, who was killed in an infamous 1998 attack that galvanized support around expanded federal hate crime laws.
The plaque was installed Tuesday at the Episcopal cathedral after Shepard’s remains were interred there last year in the columbarium near the Chapel of St. Joseph of Arimathea.
“Matt, rest gently in this place. You are home safe now,” the plaque quotes from Bishop Gene Robinson’s 2018 homily.
In a news release, Shepard’s mother said that the family put a lot of thought into deciding where his remains would be interred. She said her son felt welcome at an Episcopal church he attended in Wyoming.
“We’ve given much thought to Matt’s final resting place, and we found the Washington National Cathedral is an ideal choice, as Matt loved the Episcopal church and felt welcomed by his church in Wyoming,” Judy Shepard said. “For the past 20 years, we have shared Matt’s story with the world. It’s reassuring to know he now will rest in a sacred spot where folks can come to reflect on creating a safer, kinder world.”
Shepard, a 21-year-old gay man, was murdered in Laramie, Wyoming, in 1998. He was discovered beaten and barely alive in what police said was an anti-gay attack. His body was tied to a fence on a dirt road near the city. Shepard spent hours there in the cold before being discovered by a cyclist who at first thought he was a scarecrow. He succumbed to his injuries days later.
His death, and that of James Byrd Jr., a 49-year-old black man, were enshrined in federal legislation. The Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, signed into law in 2009, expanded hate crime law to include a victim’s sexual orientation, gender, or disability.
“People around the world gave generously to make this memorial possible,” Shepard’s mother said. “We’re grateful for each gift that created this beautiful plaque that now marks Matt’s final resting place. We hope this will be a place that forever offers solace and strength for all who visit.”
