The Washington National Cathedral honored Matthew Shepard with a day-long religious service. Dec. 1 marks Shepard's birthday. He was interred inside the St. Joseph's Chapel in 2018.
The chapel opened from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to in-person visitors for the first time since the pandemic started.
Shepard, the University of Wyoming student beaten to death in 1998 for being gay, was never associated with AIDS and the date being World Aids Day is coincidental, they said. Dec. 1, 2021 would have been his 45th birthday, had he lived.
But, in 1998 he accepted a ride from two men, Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson, who beat him near to death in a Wyoming field. He later died of his injuries in a hospital, after what authorities determined was a hate and both men are serving life sentences in prison.
His parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard, formed the Matthew Shepard Foundation to combat hate.
“Still have to fight this fight, not just for the LGBTQ community,” said Dennis, "but in all the marginalized communities, straight or gay.”
They say they’re particularly concerned about the rights of transgender people these days.
The Shepards acknowledge that progress has been made since their son’s murder.
“Marriage yes, military yes,” said Judy, “But there’s still no job protections, no public accommodation protections. Adoptions. It’s a patchwork of regulations across the country”
They had kept their son’s ashes at their home until three years ago when they were able to bring them to the National Cathedral, a safe place form desecration, they believe.
“We just made a pact so that we would do this for Matt, do the work for as long as people let us talk about him” said Judy.
“It’s a fight we’re happy to take on apace,” said Dennis, “When we look at these kids, they’re all our kids. We have to help them. If we don’t’ support them so that they succeed, this country fails.”
He is one of 200 people who were interred in the cathedral over the last century. Others include President Woodrow Wilson, Helen Keller and her teacher Anne Sullivan.
“Matthew Shepard’s death is an enduring tragedy affecting all people and should serve as an ongoing call to the nation to reject anti-LGBTQ bigotry and instead embrace each of our neighbors for who they are,” said the Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, dean of Washington National Cathedral, at the time of Shepard’s interment. “In the years since Matthew’s death, the Shepard family has shown extraordinary courage and grace in keeping his spirit and memory alive, and the Cathedral is honored and humbled to serve as his final resting place.”
Here's a list of the events that took place:
Morning Prayer: Remember, Reflect, Resolve — From 7 – 8 a.m. ET, this traditional service included prayer, scripture and music led by the Canon Rosemarie Logan Duncan, Canon for Worship at Washington National Cathedral. The event was livestreamed via YouTube and cathedral.org, which media are free to use with credit to Washington National Cathedral.
Remember, Reflect, Resolve: Online — From 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. ET, this all-day service connected people around the world to honor Shepard and the LGBTQ community and pray for a more just world. The Cathedral Center for Prayer and Pilgrimage posted prayers on Facebook throughout the day.
Evening Service: Remember, Reflect, Resolve — At 5:30 p.m. ET, there was be an in-person remembrance of Shepard in the Cathedral’s Nave (the main worship space), to reflect on his commitment to a more caring and just world. Matthew’s parents, Dennis and Judy Shepard, are scheduled to participate. There will be a live stream at this link.