Gay Student’s Killing Prompts Tolerance Resolution
The House pledged Thursday to fight prejudice and intolerance as it voiced outrage over the beating death of a gay University of Wyoming student.
“We cannot bury our heads and we cannot sit on our hands,” said Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.), sponsor of a resolution that passed by voice vote. “We will not stand for the arbitrary killing of other people due to any hateful act of intolerance,” added Cubin, whose two sons knew the 21-year-old victim.
Matthew Shepard died Monday at a Colorado hospital, five days after being found pistol-whipped and tied to a fence post in near-freezing temperatures outside Laramie, Wyo.
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), a co-sponsor, said protection is needed for gays and lesbians who live each day in fear of being attacked or killed.
At the White House, spokeswoman Amy Weiss said President Clinton will send a Cabinet secretary and a high-ranking gay official to Shepard’s funeral today in Casper, Wyo.
Weiss said Veterans Affairs Secretary Togo West Jr. would attend the funeral along with Sean Mahoney, the White House deputy staff secretary, who is gay.
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