On the evening of Oct. 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard was abducted and attacked in Laramie, WY because he was gay. Today, on the 16th anniversary of that terrible event, the Supreme Court denied appeals seeking to block the rights of loving, committed same-sex couples – and once again October 6th is a pivotal day in LGBT history.

Just like this week in 1998, our community and the nation watching a monumental story unfold.

The Supreme Court’s decision shows the progress we have made since Matt was attacked, a tragedy that drastically changed the way our country discussed issues of anti-LGBT hate. That conversation is ongoing, and the Matthew Shepard Foundation continues to be at the forefront of ending anti-LGBT hate.

We are in classrooms educating students, in courtrooms fighting and defending legislation, and in theaters across the world producing “The Laramie Project” to encourage others to address issues of hate and inequality in their communities.