Matthew Shepard's father urges TN lawmakers to resist gay bills
Wyoming dad whose son was murdered in 1998 says lawmakers are fueling prejudice
4:53 AM, Jan. 26, 2012
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20120126/NEWS0201/301260064/Matthew-Shepard-s-father-urges-TN-lawmakers-to-resist-gay-billsGay rights advocates, led by a Wyoming man whose son's 1998 murder became a rallying cry for protecting gays and lesbians through federal hate crime laws, on Wednesday accused Tennessee lawmakers of feeding anti-gay prejudice by introducing bills that deal with homosexuality.
Dennis Shepard, the father of Matthew Shepard, said legislators are encouraging the bullying of gay, lesbian and transgendered people with bills aimed at them. These bills have contributed to the suicides of two Tennessee high school students in recent weeks, both of whom had complained of being bullied in school, Shepard said.
"That should be discouraged from day one," Shepard said. "These bills disturb me, just the fact that they've been brought to the forefront and there's so much publicity about them."
