ANTI-HATE CRIMES ACTIVIST TO DISCUSS ‘LEGACY
OF MATTHEW SHEPARD’
AT UH’S ANNUAL JENKINS LECTURE
While any mother’s loss of a child is a painful thing, in
Judy Shepard’s case it was particularly heartbreaking. Her
21-year-old son Matthew was beaten to death in an act of anti-gay
brutality. But his 1998 murder has become a rallying point for those
dedicated to countering the causes and effects of such hate crimes.
Judy Shepard will discuss that movement at 7 p.m., Oct. 19, at
the University of Houston’s Cullen Performance Hall.
She will deliver the fourth annual Jenkins Distinguished Lecture,
presented by the Graduate School of Social Work at UH. Her presentation,
titled “The Legacy of Matthew Shepard,” is free and
open to the public. Free parking will be available in Lot 1A (UH
Entrance 1 from Calhoun Road). For information or special assistance,
call 713-743-2255
Since her son’s death, Shepard has been active in increasing
public awareness and participating in educational programs devoted
to altering the prejudices and changing the circumstances that foster
hate crimes. In particular, she set up the Matthew Shepard Foundation
(www.matthewshepard.org/)
to help campaign against discrimination of all sorts and to support
diversity of all kinds. She travels and speaks extensively, primarily
to college audiences.
“Hate is not there to start with,” she has said, “but
it a learned behavior, learned in schools and in society. We learn
it from friends, from family, from the media. When the language
of hate is accepted, hate crimes flourish. Laws are being passed,
but nothing is being done to change ingrained attitudes. Children
should be educated about other lifestyles at an extremely young
age.”
This lecture program is named to honor Marjorie Jenkins, a Graduate
School of Social Work alumna whose gift inaugurated the series.
Previous speakers have been Mara Liasson (2001), Jody Williams (2002)
and Benjamin Hooks debating Linda Chavez (2003). Continuing education
credit is available for social workers attending the event.
WHAT: |
Jenkins Distinguished Lecture: “The Legacy
of Matthew Shepard” |
WHEN: |
7 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 19 |
WHERE: |
Cullen Performance Hall
Entrance No. 1 (from Calhoun Rd)
Free parking in Lot 1A |
WHO: |
UH Graduate School of Social Work |
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.
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