Matthew Shephard's Parents Made an Emotional Appearance at the DNC

During the second night of the Democratic National Convention, all 57 U.S. states and territories participated in the roll call vote, where each region remotely cast their delegate votes for Joe Biden.

A reminder of how beautifully diverse our country can be, Pete Buttigieg, Craig Hickman, and many more provided some LGBTQ+ representation. But many viewers were surprised by an appearance from the parents of the late Matthew Shepard, who was brutally tortured and murdered in 1998 in an antigay hate crime. 

Judy and Dennis Shepard, who have vocally fought for LGBTQ+ rights since the death of their son, cast the delegate votes from their home state of Wyoming. 

"Joe understands more than most of our grief over Matt’s death," Dennis Shepard said. "But we see in Joe so much of what made Matt’s life special: his commitment to equality, his passion for social justice, and his boundless compassion for others."

The brief appearance of the Shepards made many emotional, including actor George Takei:

The evening was hosted by actor Tracee Ellis Ross, with Biden and Kamala Harris concluding the event. 

Read more about the DNC over at The Advocate.