Politician Labels Matthew Shepard's Murder A "Hoax"

If I didn't witness this via a video on YouTube, I don't know if I would have believed it.

I'm talking about Representative Virginia Foxx's ludicrous assertion that Matthew Shepard, the gay University of Wyoming student who was tortured and killed back in 1998 because of his sexual orientation, wasn't, in fact, the victim of an anti-gay bias crime.

Nope, it was all a "hoax," Foxx declared during a House of Representatives debate on the inclusion of sexual orientation and gender identity in hate crimes legislation that was voted on today.

According to Foxx, a Republican who represents North Carolina, this "hoax" was masterminded by  activists to further their own gay rights agenda.

Her exact words: "I also would like to point out that there was a bill—the hate crimes bill that's called the Matthew Shepard bill is named after a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed, but we know that that young man was killed in the commitment of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay. This—the bill was named for him, hate crimes bill was named for him, but it's really a hoax that continues to be used as an excuse for passing these bills."

Unbelievable.

Showing a total lack of compassion and sensitivity, Foxx dared to decry the Matthew Shepard "hoax" in front of his mother and tireless gay rights activist Judy Shepard, who was seated in the gallery during the debate.

On a positive note, despite Foxx's opposition, the House of Representatives passed the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Act, today. Now the bill heads to the Senate, and if passed, it will expand federal protection against hate crimes to include disability, gender and sexual orientation.

What do you have to say about Foxx's ridiculous and offensive rant?

[UPDATE]

Representative Foxx has issued the following statement in response to the outcry of her speech.

"It has come to my attention that some people have been led to believe that I think the terrible crimes that led to Matthew Shepard's death in 1998 were a hoax," she said. "The term "hoax" was a poor choice of words used in the discussion of the hate crimes bill. Mr. Shepard's death was nothing less than a tragedy and those responsible for his death certainly deserved the punishment they received.

"The larger context of my remarks is important. I was referring to a 2004 ABC 20/20 report on Mr. Shepard's death. The 20/20 report questioned the motivation of those responsible for Mr. Shepard's death. Referencing this media account may have been a mistake, but if so it was a mistake based on what I believed were reliable accounts."

(Image courtesy of Getty)

Comments

[steveski]

This is the exact reason why this country is fucked up and it will not get any better until all of us stand up and fight with our VOTES to ensure idiots like this are not choosen to represent anybody!

[Trueblue]

Unbelievable ignorance barely covers it.

So this woman would have people believe that Matthew was being robbed. That a robbery is why he was pistol-whipped, tied up, left in the middle of nowhere to die.

That the defendants used the gay panic defense. Why? Just because she disagrees with the hate crimes bill.

I am a big believer that what goes around comes around. For that reason alone, I wouldn't want to be this woman or her family.

[Joel Payne]

Unreal This woman should not be in power if she cant even get a real news story right....Get a life.........

[Taylor Hirschberg]

Great job to the ex-police chief of Laramie for being one of the people who used to be homophobic and now was a huge part of why this bill was passed. He has gone up to DC nine times with Matthews mom and finally eleven years later we have change. THANKYOU!!

[Art Quickenton]

I live in her district-NOTHING -NOTHING she says ever surprises me. This is the same woman who recently in a speech used the phrase 'tar baby' at least 2 times. She just goes to show that we do not elect intelligent people to Congress

[Joseph]

I have heard almost the same story... that Matthew was killed trying to buy drugs... my source... a bi-cop, who was on the team that found Matthew, and investigated the crime... What one says... does not change the fact... Matthew was killed... the crime was at least in part because he was gay... but totally because of Hate! Change will come when we put LOVE into all out actions...

[zarxo]

I would like to challenge Fox on statstical data of how many gay men are arrested eacy year with a clear criminal record for being gay.

I was by a female magistrate, handcuffed and held three days without an attorney.

Women in law are the worse promoters for gays; hence, Hilary Clinton's weak stance on gay laws.

I have found that women justify their personal confidence by their own sexual identity. You will never find a straight women wanting to date a guy that has dated guys or has been gay--they refuse to, mostly becuase to them, their identity is wrapped up into their own vagina--they see sex as a value; hence the straight womens' weak response to gay rights--they feel threatened by it. Like how black opress the hispanics, same concept of another minority oppressing another minority--it's fear, its competition, its humans at their worse!

We have got to move from this age-old concept that humans are "complete." We are a broken people with a beautiful DNA genome that is marvelous but our DNA is not perfect--I think this problem resides mostly in the "junk DNA," which probably procures and suspends age-old priori processes/myths "as memory" even in our own genes.

To utter that, this woman has a definite psychological issue. It will come out in the end, wait and see! :)

[Dave]

This is the reason I do not vote. People tell me if you do not then you don't care about your country. Well I guess if that is true here is the reason.....BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE THIS! Now I know that if I did vote it would help keep people out of the gov like this but the whole USA can't have all democrats so would my vote even really matter. Don't these people understand that bills like this aren't just to help gay people but others too, like with disabilities..etc? I mean what we are going to start saying that someone in a wheelchair needs to be shot! I mean COME ON!!! I sometimes am completely ashamed of certain people who help represent this country. But thank god this passed and hopefully it passes at the Senate!! :)

[JimE]

Dave, you don't vote because of "this reason?" It is the reason you NEED to vote.

[Unbelievable]

I think that the gay and lesbian
community should flood her office
with emails, calls, faxes and
complaints about this sort of
discrimination and igornance on her
part to be fully aware of the facts
before she makes a comment of this
nature.

[tomriddlesmate]

Matthew sheppard may indeed have been trying to buy drugs, but he was gay, and the two who murdered him killed him because of his sexual orientation. The promise of drugs may indeed have been the lure for Matthew, but a Jury heard the evidence and did not buy off on self defense or robbery.

[Phill Russell]

What a stupid bitch!!! For a Representative to not get here facts straight and make an ass out of herself in front of her peers deserves the title. Once again, stupid bitch.

[Dave]

Hey, she's just a typical republican. A moronic, homophobic, hate-mongering uninformed fool of a republican. Nobody should be a bit surprised.

[bottombuster2]

Kick her out of office..........Jon

[Rain City Blues]

Remember this woman' name on election day in 2010. You don't have to live in her district to donate money to her opponent. We must get people like this out of Congress

[Alexander]

Even though she sounds like a completet idiot, somewhere along the way the story got twisted. He got murdered, because he didn't pay his meth dealers. I believe they proved this on Dateline a couple of years ago.

[Back_2_Basikz]

im am upset about this and even more ashamed that i live in NC

[Joey]

What a stupid bitch! She should be a supporter for any type of hate crime bill passing through Congress. Why let more hate crimes happen due to homosexuality? I hope she ends up with three gay grandsons,a daughter who just discovered she is a lesbian, and finds her mother's old diary from the early 1900s talking about where she and Daddy use to love swinging with other couples. Like I said what a stupid bitch!

[Stryse]

I don't know which is worse... the cluelessness of our elected officials.. or the cluelessness of the people electing them.

[zarxo]

Even if true, if malice is present this delgate can be sued by the Matt Shephard Foundation.

There is a media qualified privilege but if malice is present, torts may apply.

If ANY of what she said is untrue, she is libel for tort for defamation. Only ABSOLUTE truth prevails over defamation even if it is hurtful.

If what she is saying is not pending for a public policy then she is abusing "absolute privilege"--if she can be caught saying what she says off the floor then civil charges may apply.

If the floor is NOT working on a public policy that is related to the Matthew Shepard Foundation then she has commited a tort if any of what she says is untrue regarding Matthew Shepard.

It seems it was for a policy. But she has to be careful, if she is caught saying "that" off the floor and its not true, someone needs to sue her for that tort.

[Martin]

What a BITCH!!!! I hope everyone thats gay in North Carolina see's what kind of a cold hearted monster she is

[Do Something!]

Here is a link to her website. Make your voice heard...
http://www.foxx.house.gov/?sectionid=95&sectiontree=3,95

[ROCKWOOD]

This shocked me. Shocked me to the end. The woman is obviously out of touch. She should of been stopped in the middle of her speech. Obviously a sign of a barnyard assed backward mentality.

Hit that link above and give her what for.

Don't let her ignorance defile the memory of the young man, or the event itself.

[oscar985]

Hi everone I live in the Seattle area and we have alot of hate crimes against gay people I am a gay man and very proud of it. this bitch needs to shut the fuck up and sit down

my heart goes out to the family may god bless

[Louis]

Poor dear… People of NC: think about this, if it was just a robbery, why not hold him up right there at the bar at pistol point and take his money? Think about, why drive somewhere to rob anyone? I have one word for this poor woman: inbreed.

[ROCKWOOD]

When 'writing' to this woman I used to following address in the form, as it doesn't allow you to put your real address in because they only accept NC zipcodes:

6000 MEADOWBROOK MALL CT STE 3
CLEMMONS NC 27012-8775

This is the address of a NC government agency affiliated with her office.

[Stan (Richmond VA)]

To say virginia foxx is a stupid, irresponsible, uninformed bitch is to be way to kind...if i was from North Carolina i would definitely be shouting her down and pushing for her dismissal from the Congress.

Hey Foxx...before YOU open that old fag hag MOUTH of yours...check the facts of what you're quoting...Sure hope North Carolinians put you out to pasture quick...i'm sure they're not as ignorant and stupid as you...

[Randy]

Unbelieveable.

[bruce]

Call Foxx's office and complain; let your voice be heard: 336 778 0211

[ROCKWOOD]

OOPS:

Here's the address and zipcode you have to use.

POST OFFICE BOX 1100
CLEMMONS NC 27012

Sorry for the mix-up.

[rodeomedic]

Just remember, "ya can't fix stupid"

[Josh]

Oh my God, I can't believe that this came out of her mouth. North Carolina is one my favorite states, but the citizens in her district sure fucked up when they elected her to the House. Maybe they will come to their senses when she is up for re-election.

[Zach]

I hope there is a special place in hell for that woman. what a stupid Bitch

[Troy Hinton]

I am a Republican, mainly do to financial responsibility, and dislike of Unions. Anyway I think the politicians should pass a hate crimes bill for themselves. They are so corrupt and evil. Whether republican or democrat, most all are only out for themselves.

[greyhound1954]

If Foxx believes the 20/20 report backs her claim, then you can credit Elizabeth Vargas, the 20/20 reporter. In her interviews with the murderers, Vargas seemed to want to clear them of anti-gay intent.

[tyler]

I tried to email Bitch Foxx's office yesterday. You have to be a North Carolina resident to use her form.
This is why xian conservatives need to go. They are nothing more than poison.

[jrty]

The crime scene was certainly indicative of old-sterotypical gay "punishment".
Gay rights are fair and inalienable in spite of what motivated this specific crime; whether money or homosexualty.
Mostly it a lack of regard for life, period.

[Lucas]

How dare you. I hope people see this and oust her and hope god she doesn't get reelected.

[moe]

its such a (repeated) shame that people this dumb find themselves in positions of power. really, how dare she! she should be tied to a fence, etc....

[Wayne]

Yes, the cat is finally out of the bag. We put a hit out on poor defenseless Matthew Shephard to make him a patsy so that 11 years later we could get a bill against hate crimes passed in Congress. Damn, Rep. Foxx is so smart. It only took her 11 years to figure this out.
I really feel sorry for those poor unfortunate souls in her Congressional District. If they have any sense they are looking to form a lynch mob right about now and are gonna be looking for her ignorant ass.
It still amazes me when I read something like this. This is the 21st Century here people. Wake The Fuck Up!!

[Amy]

I am appalled by the comments the representative made. She decided to believe a 20/20 account as opposed to the investigation by several different agencies and the transcipt of the court case? What? I'm sure this woman has complained about 'the liberal media' over and over again.
But, I have to say, I'm a bit upset by the use of the word bitch here and zorax's entire post.
Unfortunately, Rep. Michelle Bachman is from my state so I feel for the folks in North Carolina who didn't vote for her, or who aren't in her district.
Also, I don't believe ANYONE should be tied to a fence, etc. Moe. Hate is hate and that's the point.

[VersAthlete23]

Bigger Picture here ...
I see this as a GOOD THING.

Despite the fact that she represents a group of people of similar mind ... the bill still passed.

This tells me that people like her make up a portion of the US community. This is the US and we have to live with our neighbors no matter how much we may disagree.

However, this also tells me that people like her do NOT make a powerful enough portion of the voting populous ... and their power is diminishing.

We'll see how the bill fares in the Senate.

[Shawn]

If she thinks that HATE does not esist. She is so Full of shit.

Speaking as a victum of such a crime.
You dumb stupid BITCH! you should be removed!

It live's amoung those covered in Badge's that are to protect us, are in fact killing US!

[lolz]

What are the odds this person is an evangelical Christian?

[regas8]

when i read that she was a republican, I was reminded that bush was also an idiot. This is from a woman who is living in the state Jesse Helms was from.

[Bernard]

All I know is I have a friend who lived in Larmie and said that all the people in the area knew he was gay and didn't care. In fact they have gay pride events. He was killed over a drug deal. I dunno... Its such a touchy subject... I kinda look at it as something that happened that may have been for another reason, but that caused some good.

[Lonny]

And they wonder why they lost the election,

I relly can not believe that she is trulyt this stupid, but then again she is one of the losing party who will stop at nothing to continue the their sick platform.

A HIV man form OHIO
Lonny

[Jason P.]

Here we go again, She doesn't agree with a lot of gay people so she must be "thrown out of office!" She is "evil" blah blah.
Hey, it's simple.
She has every right to believe that, and SAY IT!
"I may not like what you say, but I'll defend your right to say it"

Get over this dumb crap. Let people say and feel what they want, without ridicule. Isn't that all that us gay people are asking for?

so stupid.

[shaun]

It baffles me what Republicans are allowed to say, it shouldn't be called freedom of speech more like freedom of stupidity for some.

[mike40]

I am amazed at Virgina and what came out of her mouth. But then again most Rep. are out for themselves. Can't believe the dumb ass's that are elected into office.