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THE MATTHEW SHEPARD MURDER: 10 YEARS LATER
media center > resource kits > THE MATTHEW SHEPARD MURDER: 10 YEARS LATER

October 3, 2008



MEDIA RESOURCES FOR COVERING HATE CRIMES

The death of Matthew Shepard was easily the most covered and discussed anti-gay hate crime in American history, but Matt’s murder was neither the first nor the last anti-LGBT murder to occur in this country.

Anti-violence groups (including the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs) noticed a growth in anti-gay hate crimes following the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2003 Lawrence v. Texas decision that struck down laws criminalizing same-sex relationships. In 2007, however, a spike in hate crimes based on actual or perceived sexual orientation occurred (including the deaths of Satender Singh and Ruby Rodriguez in California, Kevin Cummings Jr. in Texas and Steve Domer in Oklahoma), prompting further questions about the links between the growing visibility of LGBT Americans in our communities and anti-LGBT attacks.  The number of hate violence incidents against LGBT individuals rose by 24 percent from 2006 to 2007 – and the number of murders more than doubled (10 to 21) in the same period – demonstrating the increasing importance of fair, accurate and inclusive media

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• Resource Kit Home
• The Matthew Shepard Story
• Media Resources for Covering Hate Crimes
• Appendix: Hate Crimes Laws

coverage of this pervasive problem. 

THE IMPORTANCE OF HATE CRIMES COVERAGE

Media can play a vital role in determining community and law enforcement response to hate-motivated violence. In some cases, local law enforcement still places a low priority on anti-LGBT attacks and incidents.  Because of this, police may not investigate the case properly or at all, may re-victimize survivors, and may be unresponsive to families and/or community members seeking information.  In cases like these, fair, accurate and inclusive media coverage of the case can motivate law enforcement to better and more transparently investigate and communicate around a hate crime. 

Many on the far right downplay or trivialize hate crimes. Some people, particularly many on the far right, generalize that “all crimes are hate crimes.”  We ask that you offer your readers, viewers or listeners the facts so they may decide for themselves whether a crime victim was targeted because of his or her actual or perceived sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. 

Inaccurate hate/bias crime reporting can unintentionally support a “gay panic defense.” Personal assaults and criminal acts may only involve a single victim, but perpetrators often intend them to send a message that LGBT people are legitimate targets for discrimination, abuse and violence.  (In fact, the victims of some anti-gay hate crimes are heterosexuals who are thought to be gay.  In 2007, 6 percent of all victims reporting anti-LGBT violence to the NCAVP identified as heterosexual.) Please report the specifics of a crime and its social implications based on the facts of the case. 

Implying that an openly gay victim shares responsibility for being attacked, or that an attack was justified because of unwanted romantic or sexual advance – or due to surprise at the victim’s gender identity or sexual orientation (the “gay panic defense”) – often biases criminal or legal investigations. It also sends the message that violent attacks, even murder, are an acceptable response to openly gay and transgender Americans.  Frequently, media coverage also implies that LGBT victims may have caused their attack or death by drug use or sex work.  For instance, 20/20 did a “jailhouse” special interview with Matthew Shepard’s killers which blatantly ignored key sources and facts of the case in order to suggest that the murder was caused by drugs and was not anti-LGBT in nature.  For more information about the 20/20 segment, “A Murder in Laramie”, please see our Viewer’s Guide.

Sensationalizing anti-transgender violence by inappropriately focusing on the gender of the victim – rather than the crime itself – is disrespectful and degrading to the victim and the victim’s family, and may bias any investigation.  Transgender Americans deserve respect and dignity just like everyone else.  Sensitivity to the victim’s chosen name, which may be different from their birth name, and pronouns is vital to fair, accurate and inclusive coverage.  Sensationalizing the victim’s gender identity is unnecessary and sends the message that transgender people deserve violent responses by focusing on their gender identity instead of the crime committed against them.  For instance, the New York Post’s 2008 article “Fooled John Stabbed Bronx Tranny” jumped to conclusions about the role the transgender victim played in her own murder and made numerous sensational remarks about her gender identity.

Hate crimes based on sexual orientation or gender identity often are inadequately reported in the media.  Media are responsible for accurate and inclusive coverage, including news reports of hate crimes against LGBT Americans and others singled out based on their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.  The disparity is particularly evident in media coverage of anti-transgender hate crimes. According to GenderPAC, most gender-based murders never generated sustained media coverage (only averaging one single 500-word article rather than the more extensive coverage usually accorded a deadly hate crime), and 24 percent of victims of gender based violence receive no media coverage at all.

TERMINOLOGY

Hate Crime: A crime that occurs when the attacker targets a victim because of his or her membership – or assumed membership – in a certain social group, usually defined by race, religion, national origin (or ethnicity), age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or gender identity.  Hate crimes are different because they are not directed simply at an individual; they cause fear and intimidation in an entire group or class of people. 

So-Called “Gay/Transgender Panic Defense”: The justification of an act of anti-LGBT violence based upon, in the case of so-called “gay panic” defense, the allegation of an unwanted sexual advance by the victim, and, in the case of so-called “transgender panic” defense, the allegation that the victim “deceived” the attacker about their gender.  This blames the victim of the hate crime instead of the attacker and appeals to potential bias toward LGBT people, suggesting that a violent (or even murderous) response is appropriate.

Lesbian/Gay/Bi glossary of terms: See GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide section devoted to LGB terminology.

Transgender glossary of terms: See GLAAD’s Media Reference Guide section devoted to transgender-specific terminology.

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