Matthew Shepard's Father Dennis Speaks Out Against Tennessee's 'Don't Say Gay' Bill In Nashville (VIDEO)

The father of slain gay student Matthew Shepard has joined the chorus of dissenting voices urging Tennessee voters to resist proposed anti-LGBT legislation including the controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill.

As The Tennessean is reporting, Dennis Shepard spoke at length at a Nashville hate crime conference alongside wife Judy in an effort to discourage lawmakers from pressing ahead with bills that curb discussions about homosexuality in schools, restrict transgender people from using public facilities and amend anti-bullying laws to protect controversial statements about homosexuality.

"These bills disturb me," Shepard is quoted by The Republic as saying. "Just the idea that you're talking about it bothers me. They are American citizens. Let them have their peace and their privacy, and become the dull, boring people that we want them to be."

Shepard also referenced his son, who was just 21 years old when he was attacked, robbed and beaten into a coma by two men who are believed to have targeted him for his sexual orientation in 1998. "I see the potential that he had to help others," Shepard noted, according to News Channel 5. "I didn't look at him as being my gay son. He was my son."

Sadly, two Tennessee-based teens, Jacob Rogers and Philip Parker, have committed suicide after allegedly being bullied for being gay just as support for the "Don't Say Gay" bill and other "anti-LGBT" legislative proposals has surged within the state.

Need help? Visit The Trevor Project's website or call them at 1-866-488-7386. In the U.S. you can also call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or visit stopbullying.gov.

You can also visit Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network's (GLSEN) website for more resources.

Take a look at other recent bullying cases and related news below:

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Comments

[dbrett480]

10:04 PM on 02/09/2012

Bullying is just one side of the equation when talking about teen suicide, the other side is the lack of mental health services to assist those that may be depressed or have hormonal imbalances making them predisposed to suicide.

[whatmymotiveis]

10:19 PM on 02/05/2012

I wrote about Matthew (Methew) Wayne Shepard on different sites. People have repeatedly condemned me when I've mentioned that MW Shepard 2 months before his death committed assault&battery on Cody bartender & the next day MW Shepard made up homosexual gang rape accusation + MW Shepard's Meth use possibly ecstasy. My main interest isn't to discuss his killing but who MW Shepard was & the fact is that Matthew Wayne Shepard was a bad person. Put aside my views against gay/lesbianism. I don't think Melissa Etheride, Tori Amos, etc. would've cared if it had been a straight man with a history of sexually harassing women who 1 day gets killed in an unrelated crime. They'd probably say that the man being a crime victim doesn't change the bad deeds he did to women. If you believe this, then you have no complaint about me not mourning MW Shepard. Yes, his killing is unrelated, but METHEW W. Shepard making up sex abuse accusation is almost as bad as committing sex abuse. Innocents could've been arrested or in worst case scenario even convicted. I can't accept what MW Shepard did, even if celebrities such as Melissa Etheridge, Elton John, etc. imply that I look the other way. No matter why he was killed, MW Shepard treated others poorly.

[opinionator63]

06:14 PM on 02/03/2012

I wonder if, in effect, they're wanting to try a "don't ask, don't tell" policy to prevent bullying? Doesn't sound like that's their intent, but it's an interesting concept. I don't think it would work though. I think what does seem to work is to have teaching in the schools about tolerance and how everyone is equal, period.

[undergroundmobile]

10:18 AM on 01/30/2012

Regarding Matthew Wayne Shepard making up story he was homosexually gang raped to Cody police, the excuse that Judy Shepard has made is that her son was drunk that day, had PTSD & that once the medical tests returned negative, MW Shepard 'dropped' the charge when in fact it's the cops & prosecutors who decide whether to pursue or drop a case. When MW Shepard grabbed the bartender's jacket & arms after he was told no by the bartender, then it's misdemeanor assault&battery. There was enough proof for a jury to have convicted MW Shepard though the case may have been pleaded down to disorderly conduct.

Matthew Wayne Shepard chose to worsen his PTSD by getting drunk & using Meth (Ecstasy) so you can call him Methew Wayne Shepard. Gay/lesbian activities are useless & sex changes are a worse abomination which should be abolished. Gays have no right to commit assault&battery as M.W. Shepard did 2 months before his death.

[broui]

09:10 AM on 01/30/2012

One of my favorite stories as a teacher over the past 12 years is about a student I still have.

He was suicidal and nearly dropped out at the end of his sophomore year. My colleague saw he was hurting and confronted him and convinced him to stick it out, that there were people who cared. Whatever she said to him that spring got him back for his Junior year with a great deal of hesitation.

Our first essay was about fear. He had to use "Inherit the Wind" and "The Crucible" but mainly say what he wanted to about fear. he wrote about being gay and the implications of coming out - at school, at home and living with himself. It was beautiful and heart wrenching.

That piece was also brave. He had decided early on to trust me and I told him I recognized it and would endeavor to earn it.

He soon learned to live with it and then began to help others live with themselves. Some who were gay (NOT a choice) and some who had made poor choices in reaction to bad things family had done to them (use your imagination - yeah, really bad). He became a Jedi Master. He became a role model. He is loved by all.

It merely took a few people to love him for who he is so that he could give himself a chance to also do so.

[opinionator63]

06:09 PM on 02/03/2012

Thank God and thank YOU that this boy was able to find hope and a reason to live! Too many are taking their lives before even having enough time in life to discover that there is a huge community of people who will love and accept them exactly as they are. High school is such a difficult time because it seems like that's the only thing there it. It's hard to see that very soon you'll be out of high school and can be a part of any community you want. In College you'll find large LGBT groups. Occidental College, for example, where Obama went, has a very powerful LGBT group that's very outspoken and close knit - and they remain close knit long after college. So there is a huge light at the end of the tunnel. HUGE, WARM, and INVITING! Just don't commit suicide or you'll never be able to bask in that warmth! If you have to, get out of high school! I left high school in 10th grade and took classes at a community college instead, then transferred into a 4 year college. Not because of bullying or anything, but you CAN do that!

[broui]

06:39 PM on 02/03/2012

I find it awkward to say "you're welcome".

I see it as a moral duty to help young people grow into happy, healthy adults insofar as I can. The world has far too many broken people who didn't need to end up that way.

Love. Everyone. Period. I try my best to live by it and hope it rubs off.

Peace.

[scorpions5]

10:45 AM on 01/28/2012

Mr. Shepard is right. We are talking about people, these people are American citizens. They didn't ask to be born this way, but they are and must live in a society that sees them as not equal to others. No one should deny rights to anyone because they don't agree with how they live their life. That is unAmerican and certainly not Christian.

[falseaccusers]

07:03 AM on 01/29/2012

Scorpion5, gay & lesbian activities by willing adults must be seen the same way as crack smoking is by willing adults. Yes, the laws of the U.S. allows this but we must work to find a cure for gay/lesbian activities no matter why-whether it's result of birth defect or whether they do so because of childhood sex abuse. We must also abolish sex changes-sad mutilations. I know that I'm in a minority here on Huffington Post but you implied that you saw nothing wrong with Matthew W. Shepard making false homosexual gang rape accusation 2 months before he was killed.

[scorpions5]

11:36 AM on 01/29/2012

You are comparing drug addicts with gays? I don't even know how to respond to that. The only way you will EVER understand what gays go through is if you are handed a gay son, or a lesbian daughter, or a gay friend, or a gay cousin. Only then will you see the cruelty they have to endure. Don't be too quick to judge, I did, and God has taught me a lesson by judging others and by not trying to understand their plight. We learn through life lessons handed down by God in some very personal ways. Think twice about how you want to judge people, it will come back to you.

[ricki goodfellah]

10:37 AM on 01/28/2012

Still more of a financially and I might add morally bankrupt agenda from the State of California that begins the "Social Engineering" process in kindergarten. In a lawless environment like California this type of tyranny is not only tolerated but embraced.

Old Hickory would be proud that his home state stood up for it's values and set standards to educate their youth. Not talking about a subject which might be confusing to some youth is hardly akin to bullying.

Matthew Shepard was 21 years old not a preadolescent youth. Let's not mix in hot topics into a states' right to set standards for education. What happened to Shepard was reprehensible but it is not a schoolyard incident.

This entire pressure from outside of the state is the true Wrong or Evil. Leave these people alone! Let the people of Tennesee decide! Besides the unattended youth can get their education on MTV like the rest of the kids in America.

[falseaccusers]

06:23 AM on 01/29/2012

Ricki Goodfellah, with Matthew Wayne Shepard, what I have to wonder is do the posters incl. here who mourn MW Shepard see anything wrong with MW Shepard falsely accusing some1 of homosexual gang rape 2 months before his death which could've sent innocents to prison? MW Shepard's killing is of minor interest to me. Yet when I have raised MW Shepard's false homosexual gang rape accusation, people have condemned me. False accusers of sex abuse are almost as bad as sex abusers. Gay & lesbian activities are bad but yes, the law allows it. Any1 who sees nothing wrong with what a drunk MW Shepard did 2 months before his death-commit assault&battery & then the next day make false story of being homosexually raped by 3 has something wrong with them.

[ricki goodfellah]

10:52 AM on 01/29/2012

I am not certain about all of the background details of this case. However, I find murder to be way wrong in any circumstance. Did this young man's actions help to contribute to his demise; it sounds like it may have been the case. Just like if you went to the hood and talked trash; the liklihood of walking out intact is not good; regardless of race or sexual orientation. I guess the rules or sublaws of this neighborhood led to very severe consequences.

Every cause needs a lightning Rod to gather support. Apparently the Gay and Lesbian community have embraced this tragedy as a means to move a political agenda forward. Matthew Shepard has simply become the poster child of special interests that would like to mainstream a life style that is all in all very self destructive for all involved.

Certainly this was a tragedy; the unfortunate part is that the victim may have been a contributor to his own demise. The bigger story now is that the social engineers are seeking to impose their wills upon a sovereign state, Tennesee and force it to adopt values that come from a lawless California.

The insanity does not stop there! The Attorney General of the United States is suing the States of Alabama and Arizona for upholding the laws of the land. This anarchy is the symptom of a society that has lost it's soul and rather than deal with real issues like unemployment and poverty.

[falseaccusers2]

02:04 PM on 01/29/2012

Ricki Goodfellah, here's something to consider. If a straight man with a history of sexually harassing women is 1 day robbed & killed in an unrelated crime-some of the people who hold vigils for MW Shepard would probably not mourn the straight man with the argument that because he sexually harassed women, they can't mourn him. Matthew W. Shepard to repeat once committed assault&battery on a man who reacted by decking him & falsely accused him of homosexual gang rape the next day which yes, is unrelated to his Oct. 1998 killing. Any1 who doesn't mourn a straight man with history of sexually harassing women who gets killed in an unrelated crime has no right to critique my view of not mourning MW Shepard as while his killers are in prison, MW Shepard being a crime victim doesn't change the fact that MW Shepard treated other people poorly incl. falsely accusing some1 of a serious crime.

[ricki goodfellah]

05:47 PM on 01/29/2012

Honestly, I doubt the sincerity of the vigils and the mourners. I think that his death or as they would have it Martyrdom is a rallying point to move a much larger agenda ahead. This guy was not thinking "Straight" literally and he messed with the wrong people.

There are bars in Harlem where it would take less than two days to reap and immediate consequence for less provocative actions. These mourners know that he is just a pawn an a chess board now. Too bad his dad wasn't able to teach him to stay out of bars where really bad boys play. I do not go to places where it would invite confrontation or the wrong attention. I guess Wyoming is not a good place to be Gay. I suppose the movie Broke Back Mountain was a way to get even with the cowboys up there. This thing has happened in Park City Utah, On another occasion it happened after a Jenny Jones episode and it has happened dozens of more times.

Perhaps the education to these people is to not go to places where they can be hurt or injured and they certainly should not stir up trouble if they find themselves in the wrong place.

[notothis]

09:12 PM on 01/27/2012

If Mr. Dennis Shepard is reading this, what gets small if any coverage surrounding his & Judy Shepard's son, Matthew Wayne Shepard is that 2 months before his death, MW Shepard committed assault&battery on a Cody Wyoming bartender who reacted by decking him. The next day MW Shepard falsely accused the bartender of homosexual gang rape by saying 3 homosexually raped him which was disproved by medical tests. MW Shepard in Oct. 1998 should've been in a Cody jail as the Cody police had enough proof for jury to have convicted MW Shepard of assault&battery & falsely reporting crime. Finally transexuals are worse than the gays & they must abolish sex change mutilations.

[scorpions5]

10:37 AM on 01/28/2012

And so he deserved to be beaten, robbed and murdered????????????? You are sick, seek some help.

[Wrongway62]

09:02 PM on 01/27/2012

There is little I can say about this Bill with in the moderators constraints, read between the lines so to speak. #$#&^&^$^%$RF&U@*&^#$^!@.

[aowens2009]

06:51 PM on 01/27/2012

I stand with you Mr. Shepard.

My daughter was 16 when she walked into my bedroom, sat on the bed and said I have something to tell you. I'm gay.

I looked at my daughter and said - tell me something I don't know. She started crying. I told her that night as long as there is breath in my body she is my child, and as long as she lives her life true to herself - she can't go wrong.

I also told her - any fool she runs across who tries to make her feel ashamed of who she is - give them Mama's number!

[A Dub]

08:49 PM on 01/27/2012

F&F

[Tonya Cox Willis]

09:07 PM on 01/27/2012

aowens2009, from one mom to another, I love you.

[palmejn]

01:10 PM on 01/28/2012

Ditto

[Kali03]

06:15 PM on 01/27/2012

Part II

I got cut off, so:

And now? It's been a long time since 1998. But when will things change? For instance...when there are tragedies like that of Tyler Clementi, I wonder when it will be safe for our gay and trans friends, students, loved ones, and family members.

[Kali03]

06:12 PM on 01/27/2012

I was a new graduate student, just starting with the teaching when Matthew Shepard was murdered. When I heard the news, I felt it in my heart as a teacher. Matthew Shepard was an undergraduate, and school was in session. His professors and graduate student instructors would have to erase his name from their rosters. I thought of my own precious students, then.

That morning, I went to class and asked my students if anyone had heard the news. One young woman had--the one sort of alternative/punk student in the group--but she didn't know details. So I told them, and I asked them to imagine how they would be feeling today if one of the kids on their dorm hall had been Matthew Shepard. I started to cry in front of them as I told them how it would effect me to erase one of their names from my roster. I asked them if anyone had any gay friends in their dorms. They sat there, quiet, and finally they shook their heads. I said, "Maybe you do and they are just too frightened to tell you." My students, such sweet people they were, sat there, embarrassed, and we had a moment of silence for Matthew Shepard. After class, several came up and thanked me for my announcement.

When there are tragedies like that of Tyler Clementi, I wonder when it will be safe for our gay and trans friends, students, loved ones, and family members.

[bellestarrr#1]

06:12 PM on 01/27/2012

Tenessee is a very hard state to live in if your gay...so move the heck out of their and leave those red-necks to their misery..it wont be long til they find something else in the state that is queer to them

[TheNextVoiceofYouth]

02:43 PM on 01/27/2012

What a stupid bill. Even if they don't discuss homosexuality and transgender people in high school, people will still run into these things in college and the real world.

Also, I thought Matthew Shepard was a gay teen when he died; seeing his true age makes me sadder about him, because he was closer to my age. Please share these songs and books in order to prevent more deaths like Matthew, Phillip, and Jacob from occuring: http://artsandyouthlove.wordpress.com/?s=8+Things+to+Save+a+Life

[Doug Whitinger]

12:27 PM on 01/27/2012

I certainly hope that if this terrible bill DOES pass, that it includes verbiage to encompass people who say "that is SO gay." Because that is, technically, saying gay. Right, Tennessee?