Judy Shepard's Endorsement of Seven Straight Nights

Judy ShepardWhen my son Matthew was murdered nearly nine years ago, my family had a choice - a choice we make everyday of our lives. We could mourn Matthew's death privately, withdraw into some semblance of privacy and try to resume our "normal" lives. Or we could use this tragedy to talk about hate and help make Matthew's murder a wake-up call to our country.

Our son died because of hate. He was killed simply because he was gay. For us, our choice was a no-brainer. Not a day goes by that I don't think about Matthew - his spirit, his passion for people, or his smile. And since his death we have witnessed countless acts of hate, bigotry, and injustice against other LGBT Americans. For Matthew and all of the other victims, our family has chosen to fight and to act - to speak out against hate, to "come-out" as allies, and to engage ourselves in the process of change.

All of us - gay and straight alike - need to act. Hate affects each and every one of us. Seven Straight Nights for Equal Rights will serve as a venue for straight people to become directly and visibly engaged in advocating for equality. This action will open the door for more people to become involved - to feel safe, included and needed as allies in the movement for equality.

As a straight ally and mother of a hate crime victim, I challenge all of us to action. With your help, Seven Straight Nights can have a lasting impact on our communities by starting critical conversations, creating meaningful relationships, and affirming a group of people that have faced hate and bigotry for far too long.