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Matthew Shepard

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12 Oct, 1998

Gay man’s murder sparks vigils

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Shepard’s death sparks outrage, spawns vigils, produces calls for Federal hate-crimes legislation. In Denver, mourners write messages on a graffiti wall as part of national Gay Awareness Week. In San Francisco, the giant rainbow flag that symbolizes the gay rights movement is lowered to half-staff in the Castro district. National gay and lesbian rights director:

There is incredible symbolism about being tied to a fence. People have likened it to a scarecrow. But it sounded more like a crucifixion.