Dennis Shepard

{{Infobox person

| name = Dennis Shepard

| image = File:Dennis Shepard visit to Sweden December 2013 (11221087796-cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Shepard during his visit to Sweden in December 2013

| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1954|11}}

| birth_place = Scottsbluff, Nebraska

| death_date =

| death_place =

| occupation = Oil industry safety engineer

| parents =

| spouse = {{marriage|Judy Shepard|1973}}

| children = Matthew Shepard (1976–1998)
Logan Shepard (b. 1981)

| alma_mater = University of Wyoming

}}

Dennis Shepard (born November 1954) is the father of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old student at University of Wyoming who was murdered in October 1998 in what became one of the most high-profile hate crimes against LGBTQ people in the United States. He and his wife, Judy Shepard, are co-founders of the Matthew Shepard Foundation,{{cite news | url=http://www.bilerico.com/2013/10/in_memoriam_matthew_shepard.php | title=In Memoriam: Matthew Shepard | work=Bilerico Project | date=October 12, 2013 | accessdate=October 20, 2013 | first=John M. | last=Becker | archive-date=September 23, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923185356/http://www.bilerico.com/2013/10/in_memoriam_matthew_shepard.php | url-status=dead }} and advocate for LGBT rights. He has been an advocate for parental support of LGBT children both during Matthew's life and, very publicly, since Matthew's death. He and Judy continue to live and work in Casper.{{cite web | url=http://www.nationalcathedral.org/events/lgbt20131004.shtml#.UmNvspE-KGQ | title=Coast-to-Coast World Premiere Film Screening: Matt Shepard Is a Friend of Mine | publisher=Washington National Cathedral | year=2013 | accessdate=October 20, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141025075728/http://www.nationalcathedral.org/events/lgbt20131004.shtml#.UmNvspE-KGQ | archive-date=October 25, 2014 | url-status=dead }}

Personal life

Born in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, Shepard earned a degree in education from the University of Wyoming before marrying Judy in 1973 and moving to Casper, Wyoming, in 1976. While they have also resided in Saudi Arabia, they have since returned to Casper, where they currently work and reside.{{cite web | url=http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Our_Story_Judy_Bio | title=Judy Shepard Bio | publisher=Matthew Shepard Foundation | accessdate=October 12, 2009 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100524062911/http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Our_Story_Judy_Bio | archivedate=May 24, 2010}} Dennis is the father of two sons, Matthew Wayne Shepard (1976–1998) and Logan Shepard (born 1981).{{cite news | url=http://www.washblade.com/2008/4-11/arts/feature/12386.cfm? | title=At his brother's 'Place': Logan Shepard, brother of Matthew, debuts blog and goes to work for family's foundation | work=Washington Blade | date=April 11, 2008 | first=Katherine|last=Volin | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101010501/http://www.washblade.com/2008/4-11/arts/feature/12386.cfm | archivedate=November 1, 2009 | url-status=dead }}{{cite web | url=http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageServer?pagename=mat_FAQs_Matthew | title=FAQs About Matthew | publisher=Matthew Shepard Foundation | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090505164020/http://www.matthewshepard.org/site/PageServer?pagename=mat_FAQs_Matthew | archivedate=May 5, 2009}}

Career

Shepard was an oil industry safety engineer,{{cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-xpm-2013-oct-10-la-na-matthew-shepard-20131011-story.html | title=15 years after Matthew Shepard's murder, his mother looks ahead | work=Los Angeles Times | date=October 10, 2013 | access-date=October 20, 2013 | author=Glionna, John M. | location=Laramie, Wyoming}} Dennis worked for more than 16 years in safety operations for Saudi Aramco in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, before retiring from that position in 2009.

Advocacy

He has served on the Matthew Shepard Foundation board of directors since the organization's inception and currently speaks to audiences around the country, particularly to victims' advocacy organizations and law enforcement audiences about his experiences and the importance of equal treatment of LGBT crime victims and their loved ones.{{cite news | url=http://trib.com/lifestyles/home-and-garden/the-road-to-equality-dennis-and-judy-shepard-are-still/article_71ebb688-2390-54a5-8723-8e06052a2b0e.html | title=The road to equality: Dennis and Judy Shepard are still fighting 15 years after their son's death | work=Casper Star-Tribune | date=June 17, 2013 | accessdate=October 20, 2013 | author=Storrow, Benjamin}} On March 20, 2007, the Matthew Shepard Act ({{USBill|110|HR|1592}}), a bill which would expand federal hate crimes legislation to include sexual orientation, was introduced as federal bipartisan legislation in the U.S. Congress, sponsored by Democrat John Conyers with 171 co-sponsors. Dennis and his wife, Judy, were present at the introduction ceremony. That bill did not pass however, after then-President George W. Bush threatened to veto the bill if it passed. On October 22, 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, and on October 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law.{{cite news|url=http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/28/obama-signs-hate-crimes-bill/|title=Obama Signs Hate Crimes Bill|work=The New York Times|date=28 October 2009 |accessdate=September 29, 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.mercurynews.com/columns/ci_13628360 |title=Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act passes Congress, finally |work=Mercurynews.com |date= |accessdate=December 30, 2012}}

Dennis and his wife Judy announced Wyoming's votes in the roll call at the 2020 Democratic National Convention.{{cite news|author=Staff|title=Watch Full Roll Call at the 2020 Democratic National Convention|date=August 19, 2020|newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/elections/2020/8/19/21375940/watch-full-roll-call-2020-democratic-national-convention-illinois}}