page_title: Matthew Shepard Foundation
section_title: Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
hierarchical_section_title: Matthew Shepard Foundation / History / Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act
caption_attribution_description: English: President Barack Obama greets Louvon Harris, left, Betty Byrd Boatner, right, both sisters of James Byrd, Jr., and Judy Shepard, center, mother of Matthew Shepard, following his remarks at a reception commemorating the enactment of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act in the East Room of the White House, Oct. 28, 2009. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
context_page_description: The Matthew Shepard Foundation is an LGBT nonprofit organization, headquartered in Casper, Wyoming, which was founded in December 1998 by Dennis and Judy Shepard in memory of their son, Matthew. The Foundation runs education, outreach, and advocacy programs.
context_section_description: Since its founding, the organization lobbied for passage of federal, statewide, and local hate crimes prevention legislation. On October 22, 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act. The Act of Congress was signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 28, 2009, as a rider to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010 (H.R. 2647). Conceived as a response to the murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr., the measure expands the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.
caption: President Barack Obama greets Judy Shepard, center, and Louvon Harris, left, with Betty Byrd Boatner, right, both sisters of James Byrd, Jr. at an October 2009 White House reception
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