Matthew Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming,
thousands of miles away, but his murder six years ago still impacts
students here at OU.

Shepard died of severe head drama after he was robbed, beaten
and tied to a fence in the Wyoming countryside.

The reason was that he was gay.

The memory of Shepherd’s murder hits close to home for
some students.

Joshua Oaks, theatre direction sophomore, said he was pushed to
the ground and punched several times when he was a junior in high
school while he was holding hands with his boyfriend at a local
movie theatre.

“I was very surprised, and I had no problem displaying
physical affection,” Oaks said. “But after that I found
myself afraid to show anything.”

OU Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Friends, Walker
Center President’s Council and University Apartments Center
President’s Council held a vigil in the Unity Garden on the
South Oval honoring the lives of Shepard and others who have died
or been beaten because they were gay, lesbian, bisexual or
transgender.

The vigil was held during National Coming Out Week, a week OU
has dedicated to educating students about homosexuality. National
Coming Out Day is Oct. 11.

Matt Matos, president of University Apartment Center
President’s Council and management and information systems
sophomore, said educating people is the best way to change their
attitudes.

“We have to make people realize that these blatant acts of
crimes happen not just once in a while, but every day,” Matos
said. “It is our goal to help them get past their prejudices
and discriminations.”

Leslie and Phillip Bohon-Bothwell, members of Parents, Families
and Friends of Lesbians and Gays of Norman, were two of the four
speakers who discussed the need for the gay community to stand up
and demand their equality.

“As a freshman here at OU in 1973, I saw a lot of things
on the South Oval,” Mr. Bohon-Bothwell said. “But
I’m encouraged to see this event for this purpose
tonight.”

Leslie Bohon-Bothwell, whose son is gay, said this generation is
the movers and shakers that will change the world, but until it
realizes that, little can be done for anyone, gay or not.

“When we begin to choose who we protect and not protect,
we all risk our protection too,” she said.

The Bohon-Bothwell family was not the only one adamant about the
societies’ stance on homosexuality in the United States.

With passion in her voice, Lynnsey Weber, sociology senior,
delivered a speech about the violence that homosexuals and
transgendered people face, mentioning several stories about people
who have been victims of assault because they were gay.

“Our country is more concerned with democratic equality
overseas, but we don’t have equality at home,” Weber
said. “That is violence.”

Many members of the audience were cast and crew of “The
Laramie Project,” a play focusing on the town where the
Shepard murder occurred and how it dealt with his death before,
during and after the incident.

“Within the theater department, we tend to be a little
isolated, and we don’t see how important this topic is in
society,” said Eudaemone Battilega, graduate director student
and director of “The Laramie Project.”. “This
vigil shows that we all have a common cause and something to
believe in.”

Ashley Klanac, University College freshman, said she attended
the vigil because she has a lot of friends who are gay, but she
said not everyone thinks like her.

“I won’t look down on someone [who] maybe
isn’t as open-minded as myself. I will try to befriend and
show them truth,” Klanac said. “It starts with
me.”

Bret Gaither, president of GLBTF and psychology senior, said the
vigil was very moving and finally brought faces and names to the
innocent people who have lost their lives.

“It proved that these hate crimes can happen anytime,
anywhere,” Gaither said.
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