On October 12th, 1998, Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay college freshman died after having been attacked and tortured six days previous near Laramie, WY. His death catalyzed national conversations about anti-queer hate crimes, which led to the 2009 passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. 

We will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the loss of Matthew Shepard with readings by Penn students, faculty, and staff of poems and essays written as a memorial to Shepard.

This event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be served.