The murder of young gay man Matthew Shepard in 1996 caused waves around the world, with some suggesting it marked a major turning point in the gay rights struggle in America, galvanising both LGBT people and allies to push for full acceptance.
Now a documentary, made by those who knew Matthew, is being made about the murdered 21-year-old, and it’s currently seeking $25,000 on Kickstarter to finish the film. Called Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine, the film ‘explores the life and death of Matthew Shepard and examines the wreckage left behind after his murder. Framed through the very personal lens of friends and family, it’s a story of loss, love, and courage in the face of unspeakable tragedy.’
The doc has already been made (with the support of the likes of the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the Human Rights Campaign), but it needs completion funding to sort out things such as Marketing & Publicity, Mastering costs, Booking fees,Classroom versions and Professional fees.
Director Michele Josue comments on the Kickstarter page, ‘Matt was a close friend and his death was devastating. Making this film has been incredibly difficult yet so meaningful, and we’ve been working steadily for the past 3 years to bring this film to fruition…
‘While we’ve come a long way in the last fifteen years, ignorance and hate are still a part of today’s society. MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE highlights the responsibility we all have to help make sure people around the world are not at risk of falling victim to the same story ending Matt was.’
Fifteen years ago, on the night of October 6, 1998, two men lured Matthew Shepard, a gay freshman at the University of Wyoming, from a bar in Laramie, WY. He was kidnapped and driven to a field where he was tortured and tethered to a fence and left to die. Never regaining consciousness, Matthew succumbed to the severe injuries from the attack and died on October 12, 1998.
The murder of Matthew Shepard was a devastating tragedy that made countless headlines around the world. As people denounced the hatred and senseless violence that caused Matthew’s death, a much-needed dialogue about hate crimes and intolerance against the LGBT community began and continues to this day.
If you want to find out more about how you can help the film get to audiences (and the goodies on offer if you do), head over to Kickstarter. [Read more…]
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