On October 6th, 1998 Matthew Wayne Shepard an LGBTQ+ Laramie community member and student at the University of Wyoming was taken from the Fireside Lounge and was beaten and left for dead on the outskirts of town. Days later on October 12th, 1998, Matthew Shepard passed away from his injuries from this brutal murder.

This hate crime caught the attention of the world and from this tragedy, his parents Dennis and Judy Shepard have advanced his legacy to enact change & reform for nationwide equality. Some of these notable accomplishments are the founding of the Matthew Shepard Foundation and the passing of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in 2009.

On October 8th, 2023 Laramie PrideFest and Shepard Symposium on Social Justice will be hosting a memorial event 25 years later at the Library Sports Bar and Grille (formerly the Fireside Lounge), to honor, recognize and be present with one another while remembering Matthew Shepard.

This event will feature speakers who will reflect on their own experiences being a part of both the LGBTQ+ and Laramie community and what Matthew Shepard’s legacy means to them. There will be a moment of silence along with a candlelight vigil held at the end, remembering Matthew Shepard and all those in marginalized communities who continue to be affected by hate crimes today.