- [voiceover] this program is made possible in part by historic marion, virginia, home of the wayne henderson school of appalachian arts, celebrating 20 years as a certified virginia main street community. the ellis family foundation. general francis marion hotel. the historic general francis marion hotel and black rooster restaurant and lounge, providing luxurious accommodations and casual fine dining. the bank of marion. your vision, your community, your bank. emory and henry college. since 1836, solving problems through creative and collaborative results-based education.

and a young man named matthew wayne shepherd was offered a ride home by two other young m men, aaron mckinney and russell henderson. they didn't give him a ride home. they took him out to a very rural area near laramie, wyoming. they tied him to a fence because he was gay. they robbed him. they pistol whipped him. they tortured him. and they left him there to die. it was 18 hours later that a bicyclist riding past saw this young man still tied to a fence. the bicyclist thought that matthew wayne shepherd was a scarecrow. but went to investigate, realized it was a young man, proceeded to get help. matthew was extremely damaged. his skull was fractured. his brain stem absolutely inflamed. he never regained consciousness. he died six days later. it was a hate crime that rocked the nation. it was a hate crime that shocked the conscience. these crimes were happening with some regularity, these hate crimes against our lgbt community, but this one caught the attention of the nation. and a bill was crafted, the matthew shepard hate crimes prevention act. and that bill was championed by my predecessor in office, gordon smi