Parents of Gays and Lesbians Demonstrate at White House Before Signing of
Matthew Shepard Amendment
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Parents of gays and lesbians,
teachers and activists carrying photos of hate crime murder victims including
Harvey Milk and Matthew Shepard will demonstrate in front of the White House
on Wednesday, October 28 from noon to 2 p.m. prior to the President signing
the Matthew Shepard Amendment. The amendment adds gender, sexual orientation,
gender identity and disabilities to the federal hate crimes act.
The demonstration is organized by Equality Forum, a national and international
GLBT civil rights organization with an educational focus.
According to the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, there were 29
hate crime murders of gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT) Americans
among the 2,424 GLBT hate crimes in 2008. Since 1998, when Matthew Shepard
was murdered, there have been over 16,000 hate crime victims, on average,
about 1,450 GLBT hate crimes per year.
"Homophobia has fueled carnage since Matthew Shepard's murder 11 years ago,"
stated Malcolm Lazin, Executive Director of Equality Forum. "The Matthew
Shepard Amendment is the beginning not the end in recognizing, addressing and
eliminating homophobia in our schools, workplaces, neighborhoods and culture."
"We applaud those in Congress and President Obama who support the Matthew
Shepard Amendment," stated Susan Wheeler of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the mother
of James Wheeler. "My son took his life after being repeatedly harassed in
high school. He was surrounded in the locker room and urinated on. Jim never
recovered from that humiliation."
"We demonstrate as a reminder of the over 16,000 hate crime victims since
Matthew's brutal murder," stated Michael and Barbara Klinman of Havertown,
Pennsylvania, who are parents of a gay son. "These crimes are intended to
intimidate the GLBT community and their ferocity impacts the soul of America."
"As we carry the photos of murder victims of GLBT hate crimes, we stand in for
those whose lives have been silenced," stated Carol Watchler, GLSEN Central
New Jersey Co-Chair. "We demonstrate because we are concerned about the
safety of youth. We want to ensure that gay and lesbian children are not hate
crime statistics and can live without fear of homophobic violence."
Equality Forum produced "JIM IN BOLD," an award-winning documentary film about
the impact of homophobia on GLBTQ youth. The annual Equality Forum includes
the James Wheeler National Youth Panel. Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew
Shepard, has been featured at the annual Equality Forum.
On-site interview opportunities:
Susan Wheeler: Mother of gay teen James Wheeler, who committed suicide. Jim
from Central Pennsylvania was surrounded in his high school locker room and
urinated on because he was gay. Jim Wheeler is featured in the award-winning
documentary "JIM IN BOLD" (www.jiminbold.com). His poems (JIM IN BOLD,
Timeline of a Faggot and I Saw Horses Last Night) can be found on the site
under Jim Wheeler.
Malcolm Lazin: Executive Director of Equality Forum (www.equalityforum.com).
Mr. Lazin is the recipient of the US Attorney General's Distinguished Service
Award, DOJ's highest honor. Mr. Lazin is the former Chair of the Pennsylvania
Crime Commission. He is the Executive Producer of "JIM IN BOLD."
Carol Watchler: GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network) Central New
Jersey Co-Chair and a safe schools activist.
Michael and Barbara Klinman: PFLAG (Parents, Friends and Families of Lesbians
and Gays) members and parents of a gay son.
Equality Forum (www.equalityforum.com) coordinates GLBT History Month,
undertakes high impact national initiatives, produces documentary films and
presents annually the largest national and international GLBT civil rights
forum.
SOURCE Equality Forum
Chip Alfred, Communications Director, Equality Forum, +1-215-732-3378, ext.
116 (office), +1-859-806-8964 (cell), chip@equalityforum.com
