A Legacy of Justice

When Matthew Shepard was killed in 1998, his murder had all the characteristics of a hate crime. But as the 21-year-old college student's loved ones sought justice for his murder, they learned that it wasn't considered a hate crime, because homosexuality wasn't covered in hate crimes legislation.

When Matthew ShepardMatthew Shepard was killed in 1998, his murder had all the characteristics of a hate crime. Targeted for his homosexuality, he was beaten brutally and left for dead on a Wyoming roadside. He died of his grave injuries days later without ever regaining consciousness. His attackers were easily discovered and brought to trial. But as the 21-year-old college student's loved ones sought justice for his murder, they learned that it wasn't considered a hate crime, because homosexuality wasn't covered in hate crimes legislation, either in Wyoming or federally.

That same year, the family of James Byrd Jr.James Byrd Jr. faced the same obstacle when the 49-year-old African-American man was brutally killed in a racist attack. His home state of Texas had no hate crimes legislation at all.

Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. It expanded the definition of a federal hate crime to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability. The act also removed other barriers to investigating and prosecuting hate crimes. Shepard and Byrd live on in this important legislation, and though their families would certainly rather still have them alive today, the justice they inspired provides an enduring legacy.

Others who died too soon also inspired groundbreaking legislation, on both the state and federal levels. In honor of Matthew Shepard's birthday, we're remembering a few who, like him, suffered untimely deaths that led to greater justice.

Sharon Tate: Tate's 1969 murder by members of Charles Manson's "Manson Family" was incredibly high-profile, given her celebrity status as a promising starlet married to the successful director Roman Polanski. With the legislation she inspired, her death became more than a fascinating news item – it caused real change. It started when, several years after Tate's death, Mason Family member Leslie Van Houten became eligible for parole – and hundreds signed a petition supporting her release. When Tate's mother, Doris, found out about this, she mounted her own petition, collecting hundreds of thousands of signatures against Van Houten's release. Van Houten was denied parole – and she's remained in prison to this day, thanks in part to Doris Tate's perseverance. She lobbied for the rights of victims – and the loved ones who survived murder victims – to make a statement during a sentencing or parole hearing. These victim impact statements ensure that those who were wronged are always at the forefront of the court's decision-making. In 1982, California – Tate's home state – became the first of the United States to pass a law allowing victim impact statements.