Mekinna Knight- Hate Crimes

A recent event has occurred that has a very different mood  than most usual apush blogs. This event, although concurred from a tragedy, was a happy moment in times as dull as now. Last Friday, a priest by  the name of Matthew Shepard who was brutally murdered for being gay, was finally laid to rest at the Washington National Cathedral. He is the first openly gay priest to be consecrated a bishop at the Episcopal church. 20 years ago, a twenty one year old student at the University of Wyoming was robbed, beaten, and hung up on a fence left to die by two guys he met in a bar. Authorities believe that Shepard was attacked  because of his sexual orientation, and consequently led to the jump start of the civil rights movements  for the LGBT community. Many people attended the service to pay their respects to Shepard and all the things he was able to accomplish even after death.

https://www.wmur.com/article/20-years-after-he-was-killed-for-being-gay-matthew-shepard-has-been-laid-to-rest/24268992

This current event can be most closely related to the passing of the Hate Crime Laws  including the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd jr. Hate Crime Prevention stating that it is illegal an unlawful to physically cause harm to somebody because of their race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability of any person. thanks to Matthew Shepard, it was  the first act to include the prosecution towards hate crimes over gender equality<3