Matthew Shepard dreamed of foreign service, mother says
By Samantha Sieber

WASHINGTON - Before he was murdered in 1998, gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard confided to his mother that he dreamed of a career in foreign service, his mother told State Department staffers and the public Monday. Speaking at the Secretary's Open Forum, Judy Shepard told of her son's dream of working for the Foreign Service Agency after he experienced life in Saudi Arabia when the family lived there while his father worked in the oil industry.

She said she encouraged his career decision, but she feared he would not pass a security check because of his sexual orientation. She said she is now very happy to know that she would have been wrong and that he would have been able to have the career he wanted.
She said Matthew "understood what being different and singled-out was about," and that is why he wanted to work in foreign affairs.

Today, Judy Shepard speaks at colleges and universities around the country about the life her son lived and about the importance of living true to oneself and voting. Since her son's murder because of his sexual orientation, Shepard has traveled the country educating the public about hate crimes.

"Citizens don't think they need to learn about diversity," Shepard said. "This is no longer about Matt, but everyone else who is still fighting the fight. All human beings deserve the same human rights."

Also at the forum, John Naland, American Foreign Service Association president, was awarded the Gays and Lesbians in Foreign Affairs Agencies annual award for his work in improving the lives of gay and lesbian Foreign Service employees.

Naland said it is his job to stand up for the rights of the association's members and that this is just the beginning.

Gail Neelon, principal deputy of State Department's Office of Civil Rights, one of the sponsors of the forum, said the roots of department's internal policy is for everyone to co-exist without discrimination. She said education and awareness are the first steps to a discrimination-free workplace and through the work of GLIFAA and the Foreign Service Association everyone can receive acceptance and respect.