A life lost in Laramie sparks emotional plea to end hate
By: Emily Craighead, Staff Writer; Princeton Packet/PrincetonPacket Online

Judy Shepard draws tears during talk at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North

Judy Shepard speaks calmly as she reads the victim impact statement submitted in the trial of one of the two men convicted of murdering her son, Matthew Shepard.
"He was always anxious for the next step, the next stage of his life to begin," she says, describing the loving, vibrant young man her son was.
As she goes on, tears roll down the cheeks of students and parents in the audience at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, and quiet sniffling...Read Judy Shepard draws tears during talk?

Notes:
1. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Judy Shepard for her courageous and important work. Visit the Matthew Shepard Foundation to learn more.

2. This quote came from Judy Shepards's speech and is excerpted from the Packet feature---

'She also sees hypocrisy in the failure to accept gay marriage.
"You are who you are, you love who you love," she says. "That's just the way it is. If you can go to Vegas and get married by Elvis, what's the big deal?"'