Matthew Shepard

Laramie PrideFest was in June. The celebrations gave voice to and highlighted Laramie's diverse cultures, and celebrated and honored them with a host of events.

A disturbing question has surfaced lately in Wyoming due to some unfortunate events in Wyoming that have received national attention, but that question is, "Does Wyoming have a hate crime law?"

Amid a number of disheartening recent events in Wyoming, the Casper Pride organization has published a newsletter, offering ways to get involved in the community and move forward in positive ways.

Wyoming is one of just three states that haven’t enacted hate crimes legislation since Matthew Shepard was beaten and left for dead in Laramie in 1998.

A bill creating a hate crime law was first introduced in the Wyoming Legislature in 1999, but so far no such proposal has become law in the state.

The perpetrator of a hate crime doesn't target a specific victim, but rather targets the person belonging to a larger community based on race or other factors.

The committee will report its findings and recommendations to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights.

The U.S. Department of Justice event commemorated the 10th anniversary of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act.

This month marks the 21st anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death, his mother, Judy Shepard, appeared on The Ellen Show in 2009.

The autopsy said the cause of death multiple injuries from blunt trauma to the head and face.