NC Congresswoman: Motive for Matthew Shepard's Death "Really a Hoax"
April 29, 2009
While we wait for the US House to vote on the Matthew Shepard Act, also known as HR 1913 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009, Gay Rights Watch is supplying a fantastic blow-by-blow of the debate. I’m learning a lot about House members from around the country.
Take for example Virginia Foxx, Republican representative of the 5th District in North Carolina. She had a heckuva lot to say, including on Twitter, where just before the debate began she called the hate crimes bill a “thought crimes” bill. But I think she managed to suck all the air out of the room when she said this:
I also would like to point out that there was a bill — the hate crimes bill that’s called the Matthew Shepard bill is named after a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. it wasn’t because he was gay. This — the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it’s really a hoax that that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWm2zGTZBM0[/youtube]
Just to refresh your memory, Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, beaten, tortured, and ultimately murdered ten years ago. He was also robbed, yes, but he was targeted specifically because he was gay. This fact is not in dispute; it was confirmed by the then-girlfriends of Shepard’s murderers at trial.
So no, Representative Foxx, it’s not a hoax. Matthew Shepard was murdered specifically because he was gay. And it wasn’t a “very unfortunate incident”. It was a murder. Shame on you for trying to demean the value of his life.
(Please read the comment tips before joining the conversation.)
Matt.
Thanks for posting that truly amazing piece of video. Wow, wow and wow. What else can I say, but spread the word.
Thanks again.
Mark
Wow, it absolutely still amazes me that people can be so easily misinformed. Of course I would rather think that they are misinformed than purposely lying on the House Floor in order to mislead, based on the level of hate they personally possess. Scary either way.
I’m a cynic by nature, so I’m going to have to go with “purposely lying on the House Floor in order to mislead”.
Thanks for your comments!
Of course the lead investigator stated that robbery was the motive and that he certainly wasn’t targeted because of his sexual orientation. But don’t let this fact get in the way of bashing someone for telling the truth.
Also the perps girlfriend admitted that she lied about Sheppard making a pass at him thinking he (the perp) could use it as a defense.
None of this diminishes the absolute brutality and horror of the crime itself. BTW the scubbags got the maximum penalty without the benefit of any hate crime legislation. I believe Shppards family prevented at least one of the perps from getting the death penalty.
No, the lead investigator hasn’t said it was just a robbery. Assuming you’re talking about Detective Fritzen, he wasn’t the lead and has in fact been contradicted by his superiors, including the then-police chief, who are more versed in the murder.
McKinney and Henderson went to a bar specifically to pick up a gay man so they could rob a gay man. The fact that he was gay played a major role in the choosing of Matthew as their victim. In fact, McKinney and Henderson later attempted to use the ‘gay panic’ defense.
How you could suggest that Matthew’s murder wasn’t bias-related is beyond me.