Even on a day when I paid little attention to social media, I found it impossible to miss the news last Thursday about the upcoming interment of Matthew Shepard’s ashes at Washington National Cathedral. In my Very Episcopalian, Very Gay Newsfeed, friends posted related articles, often commenting on how meaningful this news is to them. My first reaction was, “Wow. This is big news.” What a critical step by the National Cathedral in continuing to advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
Matthew was brutally murdered in 1998 in Wyoming because he was gay. His murder added fuel to the gay rights movement and eventually helped broaden the definition of federal hate crimes to include sexual orientation under a bill passed in 2009. The violence of Matthew’s death became a major talking point around violence against the LGBTQ+ community. His family and a foundation bearing his name continue to work to highlight, fight against, and prevent this hate-based violence.
For 20 years, Matthew’s ashes have not been laid to rest. Concern about vandalism and pilgrimage led his parents to wait until the best solution could be found. Up until his death, Matthew was actively engaged with The Episcopal Church, serving as an acolyte at his home church and joining an Episcopal parish near his college campus. His mother, Judy Shepard, said, “Matt loved The Episcopal Church and felt welcomed by his church in Wyoming.” His love for The Episcopal Church adds another level of meaning to the National Cathedral becoming his final resting place.
Two years ago here at Southwest, Greg Warren (MDiv ’18) gave life to what is now known as the Service for the Whole Human Family, a community-initiated Eucharist that celebrates the life of Matthew Shepard and highlights ongoing violence against the LGBTQ+ community. When we celebrate this year’s Whole Human Family service on November 29, we may find comfort knowing Matthew’s remains finally have been laid to rest. And as Episcopal churches around the country mark the 20th anniversary of his murder with services honoring his life, no doubt this news will be part of the celebration.
As we reflect on Matthew’s life and death, it is also important to reflect on the current state of violence against the LGBTQ+ community and the still widespread lack of protections for us. According to the Human Rights Campaign, in 2016, a reported 1,076 hate crimes were committed based on sexual-orientation bias and another 124 based on gender-identity bias. Transgender people, especially transgender women of color, are most at risk for violence. Reports in 2017 recorded 29 violent deaths of transgender people in the United States, and 22 violent deaths of transgender people are already on-record for 2018. The Anti-Violence Project reported an 86-percent increase in violent deaths of LGBTQ+ people between 2016 and 2017. Equally troubling, 32 states lack hate-crime laws or statutes that designate sexual orientation and gender identity as protected characteristics. We still have work to do.
Was Matthew Shepard a saint? Well, Matthew was human. And at 21 years of age, his life was only beginning. According to his mom, Matthew was “empathetic and kind” and “really cared about humanity.” He was a college kid. He was figuring out himself and his life and how to live it. By no means do we intend to paint a portrait of a perfect person who could do no wrong. Nevertheless, his death was senseless, and the reason behind it is a cause for memorialization and mobilization. Matthew Shepard was targeted and killed for who he was: a young man who embraced all of who God made him to be, living proudly “out” as a member of the gay community.
As Matthew’s ashes are laid to rest and his life celebrated at Washington National Cathedral later this month, may we grab hold of God-given strength and courage to be who we are and continue to work for change so that violence against the LGBTQ+ community may, one day, be a distant memory.
How can we live into our baptismal vows of respecting the dignity of all human beings and seeking and serving Christ in all persons by working to end violence against the LGBTQ+ community?
In what ways has God called us to be courageous by openly living into all God created us to be?
Lauren Kay is a postulant for holy orders with The Episcopal Church in South Carolina and is currently studying at Seminary of the Southwest (MDiv ’19). Lauren is a Queer Christian with a passion for social justice, including issues that face the LGBTQ+ community. Lauren is actively involved with bringing LGBTQ+ education and safe spaces to Southwest and strives to be a visible safe person for LGBTQ+ people in the church. Pronouns: she/her, they/them.
