Oct 12, 1998 Mathew Sheppard Was Killed

[Bec]

so it's been 10 years since his death ... do you feel that there has been any progress in "erasing hate" in your community? I personally don't feel any safer being gay now than I did 10 years ago.

[Lee]

You know, ive never not felt comfortable in Florida to be who i am, i know it sounds strange but its the truth.

Even in the midst of Bike Week and Biketoberfest i still feel comfortable walking around town with all those Redneck bikers around the place.

Regards,

Lee

[cbl_chaz]

I was reminded, yet again, this past Sunday at Coming Out Pride here in Orlando that we still have a long way to go, but we are getting there!
By this I mean that there were significantly fewer of "God's chosen flock" at this year's event....but they were still there. One particularly bitter and outspoken man was making some incredibly ludicrous comments as he pranced through the throngs of event goers. I found myself thinking that it's these people that incite the type of violence and hatred that led to Matthew's death as well as the countless others that never reached the height of media frenzy which surrounded this heinous crime.
I hope to God that someday people like this out spoken and ill informed man can realize that it doesn't matter WHO you love, but simply that you love.

[MiamiB]

You know, ive never not felt comfortable in Florida to be who i am, i know it sounds strange but its the truth.

Well, that is because you never lived in Lake County Florida. I did and was constantly threatened with violence but what can you expect in a county where you see KKK bumper stickers on the back of pickup trucks there.