Matthew Shepard died 11 years ago today; His mother honors his memory in her long fight for a federal hate crime bill

Today is a painful anniversary: It’s been 11 years since 21 year old college student Matthew Shepard died after being tortured in a hate crime in Laramie, Wyoming.

A promising life cut short brutally short because Matthew was gay.

But his memory lives on. Three days ago, the US House of Representatives passed the “Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act”  which allows for added charges and harsher jail sentences for those convicted of what is deemed to be a hate crime, a crime against somebody’s race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

It also means the federal government could step in to prosecute in states that request it or in those who choose not to prosecute.

Matthew’s mother, Judy Shepard, has been a tireless activist and driving force behind the legislation. Earlier this year, her book The Meaning of Matthew: My Son’s Murder in Laramie and a World Transformed was published and she was among the speakers at Sunday’s National Equality March.

“I’m here today because I lost my son to hate,” she told the crowd.

Here is video of her speech: