A New Doc Honors Matthew Shepard On the 25th Anniversary Of His Death

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 25 years since the devastating loss of Matthew Shepard but next month marks a quarter century since his passing. In honor of his life and in remembrance of his death Investigation Discovery announced today a two-hour documentary special, The Matthew Shepard Story: An American Hate Crime which will honor his life and highlight his legacy, is set to premiere on Monday, October 9.

For those unfamiliar with his story Shepard, was a gay college student who was brutally tortured and left for dead in Wyoming. It was a shocking and horrifying crime that captured the nation’s attention and led to a debate about the discrimination, danger, and violence that many LGBTQ+ Americans face. One that we continue to need to have, sadly, to this very day, and once again the LGBTQ+ community is under attack.

“Matthew’s story remains just as heart-wrenching and relevant today as it was 25 years ago. This tragedy ignited an incredibly emotional and influential chapter in the fight against LGBTQ+ discrimination that brought great progress. By revisiting Matthew’s story, we hope to educate a whole new generation and underscore the power love and acceptance play in continuing the fight against violence and discrimination in all its forms,” said Jason Sarlanis, President, Turner Networks, ID & HLN, Linear and Streaming.

The film features interviews with a range of people affected by his passing including friends and allies, local journalists and community members. Also, celebrities share how the hate crime impacted them including Rosie O’Donnell, Andrew Rannells, and Adam Lambert. The film will also highlight both how things changed in the aftermath of his murder and how far we still have to go.