About the Author

Judy Shepard is cofounder of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, which is dedicated to social justice, diversity awareness and education, and equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. Shepard speaks across the country on behalf of the foundation.

Reviews

Praise for The Meaning of Matthew

“This book is beautiful: heartbreaking, honest, and written with a lovely open voice that makes the familiar story of the Shepard family's loss all the more devastating.”—Newsweek

“The courage of Judy Shepard is unfathomable...but her message prevails: Tolerance and love must always overcome hatred.”—Entertainment Weekly

“[This] towers over the majority of books written about high-profile issues and events...Judy Shepard is one woman telling one story—which she does with eloquence and heart.”—Chicago Sun-Times

“Honest, brave, and beautiful! This books breaks your heart. It is as much Matthew's story as it is the story of a woman's awakening to her position and power in history, as a mother, as a human rights activist, as a citizen. And it's told with the clarity and non-nonsense wisdom that have become Judy's trademarks.”—Moisés Kaufman, author with the member of Tectonic Theater Project of The Laramie Project

“In this extraordinary volume, a courageous, eloquent, and devoted mother tells the world the deeply moving story of her son, Matthew Shepard, whose tragic death in 1998 shocked the conscience of our country. Ever since that horrible hate crime, Judy Shepard has dedicated her own life to promoting tolerance and understanding. Now, in her own beautiful words, Judy gives us all a greater understanding of Matthew and the larger meaning of his life."—Senator Edward M. Kennedy

“Gives us a chance to know the young man whose brutal death started a movement that inspired the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Law. Raw, honest and real, with some surprising new details never before published.”—Kathi Isserman, Curve Magazine
 
“Shepard writes in a quiet, graceful voice about love, acceptance, and having a hole in one's heart the size of a missing child...While Matthew became a national symbol for homophobic victimization, for Judy Shepard it is the story of a mother and the tragic loss of her son.”—Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide

Praise for The Meaning of Matthew

"This book is beautiful: heartbreaking, honest, and written with a lovely open voice that makes the familiar story of the Shepard family's loss all the more devastating."-Newsweek

"The courage of Judy Shepard is unfathomable...but her message prevails: Tolerance and love must always overcome hatred."-Entertainment Weekly

"[This] towers over the majority of books written about high-profile issues and events...Judy Shepard is one woman telling one story-which she does with eloquence and heart."-Chicago Sun-Times

"Honest, brave, and beautiful! This books breaks your heart. It is as much Matthew's story as it is the story of a woman's awakening to her position and power in history, as a mother, as a human rights activist, as a citizen. And it's told with the clarity and non-nonsense wisdom that have become Judy's trademarks."-Moises Kaufman, author with the member of Tectonic Theater Project of The Laramie Project

"In this extraordinary volume, a courageous, eloquent, and devoted mother tells the world the deeply moving story of her son, Matthew Shepard, whose tragic death in 1998 shocked the conscience of our country. Ever since that horrible hate crime, Judy Shepard has dedicated her own life to promoting tolerance and understanding. Now, in her own beautiful words, Judy gives us all a greater understanding of Matthew and the larger meaning of his life."-Senator Edward M. Kennedy

"Gives us a chance to know the young man whose brutal death started a movement that inspired the enactment of the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Law. Raw, honest and real, with some surprising new details never before published."-Kathi Isserman, Curve Magazine

"Shepard writes in a quiet, graceful voice about love, acceptance, and having a hole in one's heart the size of a missing child...While Matthew became a national symbol for homophobic victimization, for Judy Shepard it is the story of a mother and the tragic loss of her son."-Terri Schlichenmeyer, The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide