Letter from Judy

JOIN US FOR THE LAUNCH OF MATTHEWSPLACE.COM & A NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT LGBTQQ YOUTH

Dear Ryan:

I am very pleased to invite you to join me this Friday, October 12, for the Launch of MatthewsPlace.com and a National Conversation about Disenfranchised LGBTQQ Youth. As you know, this is a particularly difficult week for my family as we recognize the 9th anniversary of Matthew's passing. Not a day goes by that I don’t think about Matt his spirit, his passion for people, his smile and his wonderful hugs. He was my friend, my confidant someone who saw the beauty of difference and the best in all people. Dennis, our son Logan and I miss and love him deeply but know that his legacy will continue. And, I find nothing more fitting to continue Matt’s legacy than to elevate the discussion about the real issues facing LGBTQQ youth in our country and to launch MatthewsPlace.com - a new web resource designed specifically for and with youth.

Helping lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) young people lead healthy, productive, hate-free lives has been a core value of the Matthew Shepard Foundation from the beginning. MatthewsPlace.com was created to embody that value. With tremendous input and feedback from young people throughout its development, we’re confident that MatthewsPlace.com will be a virtual home for LGBTQQ youth. It is relevant and valuable to the experiences of LGBTQQ youth in all parts of our country from the coasts to Middle America.

Helping and supporting our youth is a conversation we cannot afford not to have. It is already too late for many of our young people, but it’s my hope that it’s not too late for the next generation. As a community, our responsibilities are clear. Thus, I sincerely hope you will tune into my video stream on October 12 at MatthewsPlace.com and join our discussion!

Sincerely,
Judy Shepard, Executive Director