Matthew Wayne Shepard

Attacked October 6, 1998, Died October 12, 1998

Matthew, 21, a gay college student, was tied to a fence in Laramie, Wyoming, pistol-whipped, then left for dead in the freezing night. He died six days later.

His two assailants, Russell Arthur Henderson and Aaron James McKinney, were convicted of the crime and imprisoned. Henderson is currently serving two consecutive life sentences and McKinney is serving the same but without the possibility of parole. 

His murder brought national attention to the issue of hate crime legislation at the state and federal levels. 

Related Link: http://www.matthewshepard.org

After 10 years, the Mathew Shepard Hate Crimes Bill is passed. It was held-up all these years by a Republican Lead Congress.

Brandon Teena

Murdered December 31, 1993

Born Teena Brandon and raised as a girl, he was living as a man known as Brandon Teena in Falls City, Nebraska, when he was murdered at age 21. In December of 1993, two men who discovered his gender raped him. His attackers later shot and killed him after learning Brandon had reported the rape and was to help police in the investigation.

Marvin “Tom” Nissen blamed the crime on John Lotter. Later, in exchange for a reduced sentence, Nissen admitted to being an accessory to the rape and murder. Nissen testified against Lotter and was sentenced to life in prison. Lotter proceeded to deny the veracity of Nissen’s testimony, but his testimony was discredited. The jury found Lotter guilty of murder and sentenced him to death. Lotter and Nissen both appealed their convictions, and their cases are currently under review.

On September 20, 2007, Nissen recanted his testimony against Lotter. He claims that he was the only one to shoot Brandon and that Lotter was not involved. Lotter is currently appealing and is using Nissen's new testimony to assert his claims of innocence.

Danny Overstreet
Murdered September 22, 2000

Danny, 43, was a gay man from Roanoke, VA. He was killed when Ronald Gay opened fire in the Backstreet Cafe after seeing Overstreet and John Collins hug one another. Earlier that evening, Gay asked for directions to a gay bar, and said he was hunting “faggots.”

Gay, 54, also injured 6 others in the attack.

Gay was charged with first-degree murder in Overstreet's death. On October 2, a grand jury indicted Gay on six counts of aggravated malicious wounding – one for each shot fired in the Backstreet Cafe – and shooting into an occupied building.

On May 10, 2001, gay pleaded guilty to first degree murder and malicious wounding in the shootings. Gay declared he had been on a “mission” he had contemplated since 1986, when he stalked another gay bar in Roanoke. He said he wanted to burn it down, but failed.

On July 23, 2001, Gay received four consecutive life sentences for the shootings at the Backstreet Cafe. 

On July 23, 2001, Gay received four consecutive life sentences for the shootings at the Backstreet Cafe.

J.R. Warren

Murdered July 4, 2000

J.R., 26, a developmentally disabled black gay man living in Grant Town, West Virginia, was beaten and killed in a horrifically violent manner by two young white men while a third white boy stood by, transfixed, immobile.

After beating and kicking him unconscious, David Parker and Jared Wilson, both 17 years old, ran over J.R.’s body with a Camaro to fake a hit and run accident.

On July 19, 2001 David Parker pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and in July 2001 was sentenced to life in prison with mercy, which would make him eligible for parole in 15 years. In exchange for his plea, a second count of conspiracy to commit a felony was dismissed. Parker also agreed to testify against Wilson.

On August 21, 2001 Jared Wilson pleaded guilty to second-degree murder -- reduced from first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit a felony, -- and received a 20-year prison sentence.

Jason Shoemaker, 15, was charged as an accessory after the fact, and tried as a juvenile for helping dispose of evidence after the murder.

Pfc. Barry Winchell

Attacked July 5, 1999

Died July 6, 1999

Barry, 21, was beaten to death by fellow service-members while sleeping in his cot on at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. His Army colleagues thought (correctly) that he was gay, so they killed him.

Justin Fisher and others took Winchell to a Nashville club featuring transgender performers, and Winchell met a male-to-female transgendered showgirl named Calpernia Addams. The two dated and Fisher began spreading rumors of the relationship at Ft. Campbell where both were serving. Winchell then became a target of ongoing harassment and it is apparent his superiors did little to quell the harassment.

The harassment was continuous until the Fourth of July weekend, when Winchell and fellow soldier, Calvin Glover fought after Winchell accused a boasting Glover of being a fraud.  Glover was soundly defeated by Winchell, and Fisher harassed Glover about being beaten by Winchell.  Fisher continued to goad Glover about being beaten by Winchell. Subsequently, Glover took a baseball bat from Fisher's locker and struck Winchell in the head with it as he slept on a cot outside near the entry to the room Winchell shared with Fisher. Winchell died of massive head injuries on 6 July.

Glover was convicted for the murder and Fisher was convicted of lesser crimes regarding impeding the subsequent criminal investigation and both were subsequently incarcerated at the United States Disciplinary Barracks. The murder charges against Fisher were dropped and Fisher was sentenced in a plea bargain to 12.5 years, denied clemency in 2003, released to a halfway house in August 2006, and released from all custody in October. Glover is serving a life sentence.

Billy Jack Gaither

Murdered February 19, 1999

Billy Jack, 39, a gay man who worked at the Russell Athletics apparel company near Sylacauga, Alabama, was brutally beaten to death. His throat was cut, and his body was bludgeoned with an ax handle before being thrown on top of a pile of tires and set on fire.

In the weeks following the killing, two men came forward to police as the killers: Steven Mullins and Charles Monroe Butler. Butler, the younger of the two, came forward to police first. He described the night of the murder in great detail: how he had never heard of Billy Jack prior to the night of the killing; how his friend Steve Mullins found him at a bar playing pool and asked him to take a ride into the woods with himself and Billy Jack; how Billy Jack started "talking queer stuff" that set off a violent reaction in Butler; and then how he stood by as Mullins beat Billy Jack to death.

In June of 1999, Steven Mullins pled guilty to capital murder; Butler stood trial and was found guilty of the same charge by a jury. In August of 1999, both Mullins and Butler were sentenced to life in prison without parole.
 

Bill Clayton

Takes his own life on May 8, 1995

Bill, 17, committed suicide after having been brutally assaulted for being bisexual.

Bill came out to his parents as being bi-sexual at age 14. His parents and friends accepted this. Others did not. He decided to attend a support group and on his way to the third meeting, he met a 20 year old from the group who said he also belonged to another group for GLBT youth. He talked Bill into getting off the bus and going to his house to “get a book.” There the man forced Bill to have sex. Bid did not expect this, didn’t know what to do or how to stop it. Afterward he was troubled, thinking of suicide but finally told his best friend Sam, about the attack. Bill didn’t want anyone to know but Sam, being the good friend he was risked their friendship and told Bill’s mom. Bill was relieved.

The police questioned the assailant. The suspect retained a lawyer, plead not guilty and avoided jail and court for awhile. He finally went to prison for 13 months.

While he was out free, Bill would see him around town; at the movies, on the bus, etc. This added to Bill’s deepening depression and thoughts of suicide over the incident. Bill was hospitalized, soon improved; secured a summer job and looked forward to school.

On April 5th, 1995, Bill’s therapy was concluded and Crime Victims Compensation closed the book.

On April 6, 1995, Sam and his girlfriend, Jenny, were walking with Bill near their high school when four guys surrounded Bill and Sam. The four brutally assaulted Bill and Sam, kicking and beating them into unconsciousness while Jenny screamed at them to stop. While in the emergency room the police were called.

On April 14, 1995, a rally was held denouncing hate crimes. Bill spoke at the event.

The boys who assaulted Bill and Sam were finally sentenced to 20-30 days in juvenile detention followed by probation and community service and 4 hours of diversity training focusing on sexual orientation.

Read the full account of Bill’s Story at http://www.youth-guard.org/gabi/Bills_Story.html

Sean Kennedy
Murdered May 16, 2007

Sean was punched in the face as he was leaving a bar in Greenville County, South Carolina. He fell to the ground and injured his head. He later died of his injuries. Stephen Andrew Moller, 18, was charged with Sean’s murder. The warrant stated that the act was "a result of the defendant (Moller) not liking the sexual identity of the victim."

 In October of 2007, The Greenville County Solicitors Office announced that Moller's murder charge was going to be reduced to involuntary manslaughter, since there was no malicious intent by the accused.

In November of 2007, Moller was released to home detention upon paying a $25,000 bond. He is required to stay with his mother until his trial.

The charge of murder was reduced to manslaughter not only because there was no conscious premeditated desire to kill Kennedy, but also because there is no middle step in South Carolina law between murder and manslaughter. Unable to secure a conviction for murder, the trial lawyers opted for manslaughter in order to get the violent activity onto Moller's record.

On May 16th 2007, Moller was sentenced June 11th to a 5 year suspended sentence to 3 years with 3 years probation after he gets out of jail. He will spend approx. 10 months in jail. After which he is then entitled to parole. If granted he will be on probation for 3 years. He was also sentenced to 30 days community service and ordered to take anger management classes. In addition he was ordered to have alcohol and drug counseling.

See: Sean’s Last Wish Foundation

More will be added sadly