Slain gay man’s mother will be featured lecturer

Gay rights activist Judy Shepard will speak at the Wisconsin Union Theater in Memorial Union Tuesday, Feb. 27, at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series.

Shepard will discuss the events surrounding the death of her son and the aftermath in “The Legacy of Matthew Shepard.” On Oct. 8, 1998, Judy and Dennis Shepard were awakened in the middle of the night by a telephone call informing them that their eldest son, Matthew, was in a coma after being brutally attacked — because he was gay. He would later die.

Judy Shepard tries to use her grief over her son’s death to ensure that no other parent will have to endure the same ordeal. She has testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee supporting the Hate Crimes Prevention Act and has been involved in a public service campaign aimed at curbing anti-gay violence.

Free tickets will be available at the Union Theater Box Office for UW–Madison students and Wisconsin Union members on Wednesday, Feb. 21; one ticket per ID, up to four people. Remaining tickets will be available to the public on Friday, Feb. 23. Box office hours are 11:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. weekdays.

Other upcoming speakers include Jeffrey Wigand, “Insider” tobacco scientist, March 7, rescheduled from last fall; Ralph Nader, Green Party presidential candidate, April 17; Afeni Shakur, activist and mother of the late Tupac Shakur, April 22; and poet laureate Robert Pinsky, May 2.

For more information contact Mark Reischel, 262-2216, mjreisch@students.wisc.edu.