Matthew Shepard Story Facilitator 's Guide
The Matthew Shepard Story is a 2002 award-winning film based on the true story of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay man who was murdered in 1998. Rather than following Matthew 's story directly, the film follows Matthew’s parents after the conviction of the two men responsible for the murder of their son. The movie touches on themes like homophobia, assault, rape, coming out, love, friendship, and justice.
Setting Up
It is important to create the appropriate environment for the film.
Ideally you would want the environment to be darker, quiet, relaxed, and private enough to not be totally interrupted.
The participants should be relatively undistracted as to pay attention to the movie.
For accessibility
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Ask the attendees: “Who knows who Matthew Sheppard is?”
Wait to see if anyone has any responses. It is likely someone has some idea who he was.
If no one does or if there is not a complete description, add to it yourself while explaining the significance of the movie.
“Matthew Shepard was a young gay man from Wyoming who was murdered by two other men for being gay. His death is arguably one of the most well known hate crimes around homosexuality and helped to establish precedence for future convictions and non-profit work for the LGBT community. This movie is about the journey of Matthew’s parents after the conviction as they grapple with his son’s journey and what kind of legacy it will leave.”
Advise the attendees that the film touches on topics like homophobia, violence, rape and features graphic depictions of physical and sexual assault.
Remind them if they feel triggered by any of the material they are free to step out of the room if they feel the need.
Let them know that they will be asked to reflect on the film and how it ties to their experiences and their brotherhood journey.
During the Film
Now that the movie is over, it’s time to get down to
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Reflection Questions
Utilize these questions to encourage quality, reflective conversation.
“What parts of the movie resonated with you? What parts did you identify with?”
“How does this story tie into the Delta Lambda Phi mission and our values?”
“Like many LGBT people, Matthew struggled to accept his homosexual identity, can any of you relate to that at all? Maybe being LGBT or some other identity that you posses.”
“Matthew’s mother and father had a hard time to with his coming out and coming to terms with his identity. Why do you think that was?”
“How do you think the people of Matthew’s hometown dealt with his death and with the trial?”
“Justice is an important theme of Delta Lambda Phi, do you feel justice was done for Matthew? Why or why not?”
“Would you (or would you be able to) ask for the death penalty for McKinney?”
“Do you feel like you would ever be able to forgive the McKinney for what he did?”
Facilitation Tips
It is important that individuals share their answers to these questions with the
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The first topic covered will be the plot which was mostly accurate despite the shortened aspects of the film. The
raised, and the film’s bring the awareness to the forefront while also considering the underlying
E: This is all rather interesting, but what does the Gospel of Matthew of concerning Jesus’s lineage. In other words, how do they back up his “messiahship”?
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In his narrative, Justin Burnell recounts his memories of his biological father changing into to a woman. There are many ways the people in this story reacts but as a whole, in his recounts, they are almost the same. The heavy atmosphere in this story tells you how this story is going to go. The author does not give the year this takes place but just the location, in Knoxville, gives the reader insight on the hate that would be prominent.
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...nce to any behaviors juxtaposed to that of the heterosexual relationship. The narrative of Carl’s mom not only emphasizing the contempt for homosexuality in the Black community but illustrates the open demonization that is commonly viewed in the African American perspective. (Ward 501) It is noteworthy to illustrate the the countenance that Carl’s mom that made Floyd feel repulsive and brazenly aware of his “wrongness”. This reference can be equated to how Homosexuality in the Black community is wrong and brings about the lingering perceptions of Heterosexuality being right and homosexuality being wrong (Thomas 1996:59)
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The Gospel of Matthew is an eyewitness story written for an audience of believers, under great stress, and persecution. Matthew develops a theological plot incorporating genealogy, speeches, parables, inter and intra textual references, common vocabulary, and fulfillment quotations, with a tension that builds as we are invited into the story. The crucifixion and resurrection bring us to a Christological climax that symbolically points beyond its conclusion to God’s Kingdom, bringing atonement, salvation and the ushering in the Eschaton. The extraordinary events surrounding the crucifixion act as commentary, adding important details concerning the death of Jesus.1
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