Judy Shepard, founding president and the first executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, has been honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The award is the highest and most prestigious civilian honor in the United States and recognizes Judy for her unwavering support, advocacy and contributions to the LGBTQ+ community and its safety.
In 1998, Judy’s son Matthew Shepard was killed in an anti-gay hate crime. Since his death, Judy and her husband Dennis have dedicated their lives to social justice and championing their son’s legacy to secure civil rights and inspire people to embrace dignity and equality for all. They went on to create the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which provides resources for LGBTQ+ youth and their families and advocates for anti-hate legislation.
Most notably, Judy was a leading force in gaining legal protections for victims of hate crimes. Shortly after Matthew’s death, Judy and Dennis teamed up with the family of James Byrd Jr.—who was also murdered in a hate crime—to push for the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. The legislation expanded federal hate crime law to consider a person’s gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.
Working in lockstep with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and congressional champions, the Shepards’ advocacy was instrumental in the passage of this historic bill, which was signed into law by President Obama in 2009.
Earlier this year, a jury in South Carolina issued the first-ever conviction for a gender identity- motivated violent crime under this landmark legislation in the murder trial of Dime Doe, a Black transgender woman.
“We started our work right after Matt passed, and we had no idea, 25 years later, people would even know who we were or would even care,” Shepard said in an interview with Advocate. “We made a commitment—all of us in the family did—that this was what we were going to do until people didn’t listen to us anymore, so we’re just going to keep at it until people don’t want to talk to us.”
Upon the announcement of Judy’s recognition, several LGBTQ+-focused organizations voiced their support for Shepard and her organization.
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson stated in a press release:
“A mother who turned unspeakable grief over the loss of her son into a decades-long fight against anti-LGBTQ+ hatred and violence, Judy continues to make a lasting impact in the lives of the LGBTQ+ community. It is because of her advocacy that the first federal hate crimes legislation became law and that countless life-saving trainings, resources and conversations about equality and acceptance are provided each year by the Matthew Shepard Foundation.”
Judy’s activism, advocation and leadership in evoking powerful legislation were the reasons for her Presidential Medal of Freedom recognition. She was recognized alongside the likes of astronaut Ellen Ochoa, actress Michelle Yeoh, Juneteenth activist Opal Lee and 15 others.
Just before receiving her medal, President Biden spoke of Judy’s accomplishments, saying, “Your relentless advocacy is a reminder that we must give hate no safe harbor and that we can turn it into purpose and that pain you felt into significant purpose. You’ve done just that.”
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