Shepard to speak at UNLV

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Friday, April 8, 2005 | 9:42 a.m.

Judy Shepard, mother of slain University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, will be speaking out against intolerance and hate toward gays on Saturday at 3 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge of the Moyer Student Union at UNLV.

Shepard's son was robbed, beaten and left to die in Laramie, Wyo., in October 1998 because of his homosexuality. His death drew national attention to issues of homophobia, and Shepard's parents founded the nonprofit Matthew Shepard Foundation to promote tolerance and understanding of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender issues.

The public forum on Saturday is sponsored by the Matthew Shepard Foundation, the Human Rights Campaign Las Vegas, UNLV, Northwest Community Church and several other local organizations. The two-hour event is free and open to the public.