Matt Shepard's Dad Disturbed by Tennessee Bills

By Associated Press

Nashville, TN – The father of slain gay college student Matthew Shepard says he is disturbed by Tennessee legislation banning public schools from teaching about gay issues. Dennis Shepard spoke in Nashville Wednesday. He says the proposal, dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill, is an example of legislation that could be harmful to gays. Shepard says he doesn't understand why so much attention is given to gays or transgender individuals because they're ordinary people who often have "boring" lives. Shepard's son, Matt, was 21 when he was beaten 14 years ago in Wyoming, tied to a fence and left in the cold by two men now serving life sentences. His death spurred passage of a measure that expanded earlier federal hate crime laws to include sexual orientation.