“The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church”
-Tertullian, 2nd century
Other formulations of the same idea have described the Church as “nourished” by the blood of its martyrs.
It is well known that in the first three centuries of the Christian church , it endured periods of intermittent persecution at the hands of Roman authorities, on an and ad-hoc basis by local authorities and by the central Roman state. The reason for the persecution was that Christians refused to worship the Roman gods or to publicly acknowledge the emperor as divine, which was tantamount to refusing to swear an oath of allegiance to one’s country. During the periods of persecution, publicly declaring one’s faith was a dangerous public declaration of non-conformity, which could invite hostility, prosecution and death. For their courage and honesty in this public declaration, those who met death in this way were honoured by their Christian communities as “martyrs” - those who bear witness to the faith (from the Greek “martyrion”, to bear witness).
For the modern queer community, coming out and living openly and with integrity as gay or lesbian is increasingly easy, in some localities. Elsewhere, especially in small towns and in Africa, it is not. Just as a declaration of Christian faith during the Roman persecutions could invite persecution, there are times and places today where living openly as gay can result in persecution and death, and for a similar reason: a refusal to worship the false god of heteronormativity, or to conform to the artificially imposed social and sexual norms of the heterosexual patriarchy. Where this refusal to live a heterosexual lie results in persecution or death, we are justified in thinking of those who endure it as martyrs - those who bear witness to the truth of their sexuality.
Matthew Shepard was a student at the University of Wyoming who was tortured and murdered near Laramie, Wyoming, U.S.A., in October 1998. He was attacked on the night of October 6–7, and died at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, on October 12 from severe head injuries. The details of the story are well known. His attackers had deliberately gone to a gay bar in Laramie in search of a victim. They selected Matthew, pretended to be gay to secure his trust, and offered him a ride home. Instead, they drove him to a remote location, assaulted him, tied him to a farm fence, pistol whipped him, and left him for dead. The passing cyclist who first came across the dying man, tied to the fence, first mistook him for a scarecrow. Others have noted how the bloody body resembled a crucifixion scene.
Although it was clear from the trial evidence that this murder was explicitly fuelled by prejudice against gay men, if could not be prosecuted as a hate crime, because Wyoming law at the time did not provide for it. Public reaction led to repeated attempts to enact such legislation, initially in the Wyoming legislature, later in the US congress. After repeated failures, legislation was finally passed, and signed by President Obama, as the “Matthew Shephard Act”, in 2009.
In popular culture too, Matthew Shephard’s death has had a wide impact. The best kn0wn of these is a play (later turned into a film), “The Laramie Project”, which in numerous school productions has become a powerful educational tool to combat homophobic teen bullying. There are also other treatments of the story in film, fiction and popular music. (A Youtube search this morning for “Matthew Shephard” video gave 2360 results).
Most powerfully, Shephard’s mother Judy has become a prominent and influential activist for LGBT inclusion, especially through the Matthew Shepard Foundation, set up by herself and her husband in memory of their son.
FOUNDATION’S STORY
The Matthew Shepard Foundation was founded by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their 21-year old son, Matthew, who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998.
Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs, and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion, & Acceptance” through its varied educational, outreach and, advocacy programs and by continuing to tell Matthew’s story.
OUR MISSION
To encourage respect for human dignity and difference by raising awareness, opening dialogues, and promoting positive change.
OUR VISION
To “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion, and Acceptance” through a variety of educational and outreach programs, and by continuing to tell Matthew’s story.
OUR DESIRED OUTCOME
To persuade people to think differently, behave differently, and inform others of the importance and value of diversity.
Truly, the blood of gay martyrs is the seed of the Church LGBT inclusion, in society and in the church.
Related articles
- Remembering Matthew Shepard: “Love Has Founded for the Dead an Everlasting Alliance” (bilgrimage.blogspot.com)
- Matthew Shephard: Modern Gay Martyr
