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'''Mathew Shepard''' (1976-1998) was an American college student from [[Wyoming]].  On October 7th, 1998, he was savagely beaten and robbed by two men, allegedly due to Shepard's [[homosexuality]].  He died on October 12th.  His attackers received life sentences.

'''Mathew Shepard''' (1976-1998) was an American college student from [[Wyoming]].  On October 7th, 1998, he was savagely beaten and robbed by two men, and died on October 12th.  The killers were heavily involved in drugs and had met Shepard in a bar, giving him a ride afterwards.  A misguided defense of one of the killers tried to make an issue of Shepard's [[homosexuality]], but there was no evidence verifying that as the cause and the defendants were convicted and received life sentences.

Shepard's death sparked legislation to classify attacks against homosexuals as a [[hate crime]].  All legislation, both in Wyoming and on the national level, has failed.<ref>Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/matthew-shepard</ref>

Shepard's death was cited by homosexual activists to propose legislation to classify attacks against homosexuals as a [[hate crime]] that would be punished more severely than in the absence of homosexuality.  All legislation, both in Wyoming and on the national level, has failed.<ref>Answers.com http://www.answers.com/topic/matthew-shepard</ref>

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==References==