The film "Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine" comes to town

In October of 1998, Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student at the University of Wyoming, was brutally beaten and murdered. Matthew was tied to a split-rail fence, where two men savagely assaulted him with the butt of a pistol and left him alone to die in a deserted field. The event underscored the issue of hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals in America.

On September 20, 2025, a group gathered at the Luther Memorial Church in Erie to watch the documentary, "Matt Shepard is a Friend of Mine," in which several of Matthew's close friends shared how this special young man impacted their lives. The film shows graphic photos taken of Matthew after he was beaten, and the news coverage that followed the tragedy.

In the years since Matthew's murder, his story has continued to resonate with audiences across the country, prompting important conversations about acceptance, equality, and the urgent need for legal protections for marginalized groups. The film not only examines the devastating consequences of hate but also celebrates Matthew's life, his friendships, and the enduring impact he has had on those who knew him and on the broader movement for LGBTQ+ rights.

The documentary lives up to the rave reviews that appeared after its release. Film critic Roger Ebert called it "a great documentary. It doesn't just revisit an atrocity; it moves through it and finds meaning in it." The New York Times called it "a tender reconstruction of personal loss."

The two people who suffered the greatest loss were present at the screening: Matthew's parents, Judy and Dennis Shepard. When they were introduced following the showing of the film that day, the couple received a standing ovation. Judy thanked her son's classmate, Michele Josue, for creating the film about her dear friend. "Michele told us that Matthew hoped that one day he could change the world for the better. Horrible as it was, his tragic death - covered extensively by the media - sparked outrage, not only in the gay community, but in all people who believed that everyone had the right to be themselves. We accepted Matthew as soon as he told us he was gay. We knew then it wasn't a lifestyle of his choosing, but we also knew it would be a challenging life ahead of him since so many people would believe he had a choice. It's hard to comprehend that today so many people still have that misconception."

In their own way, Judy and Dennis have been striving to change that misconception. They created the Matthew Shepard Foundation in 1998. Judy was its executive director through 2009 and now serves as president of its governing board. Because of her continuing work, Judy received the Medal of Freedom from Joe Biden when he was president. In the awards ceremony, Biden saluted Judy for helping inspire others to find their voice to bring about positive change in our society.

"In today's political climate, there's so much more we can do to convince voters that change is necessary in Washington to protect individuals like Matthew from becoming victims of hate crimes in the future," said Judy to those attending the screening of the film about her deceased son.

About the Author

David Gurzenski-Lukes

David Gurzenski-Lukes has a bachelor's and master's degree in journalism from Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. He has a long career as an editor and communications professional for a number of universities, including UCLA. He was a publications editor for United Way of Greater Los Angeles and community relations director for Pacific Beach Community Hospital in San Diego, California. Since David has been retired, he has written a book, "A Gay Grandfather Grows Up," which details his difficult coming-out journey. While David has only been an Erie resident for a short period, he is already involved with various local organizations, including Aging With Pride. He has two daughters with professional careers. Jennifer is an attorney in Washington, DC, and Julie is a computer programmer in Jupiter, Florida. He also has two grandsons. Drew is a pilot with American Airlines, and Jake is a student at Florida State University.