Collective Strength: Happening All Over the USA

Matthew Shepard's brutal death occurred while I was in the process of my coming out. It occurred at a time of my life that will ensure Matthew's memory in my lifetime forever. I have seen many deaths and too many murders as a result of my past profession. Matthew's death has moved me in ways that no other death I've ever witnessed could or did. It has brought me to a closer understanding of who I am and who my brothers are and how important is our collective strength to our individual lives. More importantly it has shown me in shocking detail what ignorance can lead to and how much we can still lose or gain as free men.

Peace Matthew, I still and will always remember.

B.D.

I don't like the idea of casual sex or sex with someone I don't know well. Now, this in no way means that I never want to have sex, I most certainly do! But I'm content to see that my first time is one of those magical moments, and that me engaging in the act of sex is my way of saying how utterly I love and trust that person. I won't do it just because I'm horny as hell. Yes, yes, I'm an unusual child. I think my mother may have dropped me on my head when I was a baby, but I like to think that I'm just a bit more mature than other 20 year olds. Or maybe my sexual drive just hasn't kicked in yet. We'll see in a couple years, won't we? L.

Related Stories from the GayToday Archive: Matthew Shepard Three More Youths Perceived as Gay Are Dead! 'Bag a Fag' Report Released by Triangle Foundation Must Romance & Love End in Marriage? Related Sites: Matthew Shepard's Memorial Site GayToday does not endorse related sites.

When the government treats any segment of its population with disdain, immediate action should be taken. I have e-mailed my Congressman about this to ensure that he is aware. Moreover, I have e-mailed the Congressman and Senators from the State of Michigan about these outrageous actions… Codifying, legislating, or implementing policies that make gays targets of any institutional prejudice is simply outrageous.

Signed, CP

Here's my objective (yeah, right) take on how this whole affair will affect the Year 2000 elections. On the Presidential election, I think there will be little effect, especially if the Republicans nominate an outsider (Bush) as their nominee. I think the polls taken today are worthless at predicting an election nearly two years away, BUT, the 18% lead that Bush has over Gore, in a poll taken in the heat of this controversy, indicates to me that very few people are going to take this matter into account when voting for President. Now, if Henry Hyde were running, that might be a different story.

For House races, I think Republicans will pay a price. Some individual Republicans will be particularly targeted and may lose as a result. In other cases, the perceived vulnerability of Republicans will bring out stronger Democratic challengers. I don't think many people will vote for a different candidate on election day SOLELY because of this affair, but I think the Democrats will field better candidates because of it. I'm not sure which 19 Republican Senators are up in 2000, but I think most have been successful at not being publicly identified as rabid impeachment supporters.