Community Conversation in LA Featuring Judy Shepard
Facing History and Ourselves and The Allstate Foundation were honored to host Judy Shepard for our 10th in the Community Conversation series in Los Angeles. Over 250 community members, teachers and students came to hear Shepard at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Santa Monica College hosted the event, which was presented in partnership with Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District and the Santa Monica Bay Area Human Relations Council.
Shepard's son Matthew was killed in an anti-gay hate crime in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998. Author Eric Lax interviewed Shepard, who shared personal stories about her family, and the struggle for equality and acceptance. Shepard was warm, candid, and inspiring in her strength and commitment to create a safer and more inclusive world.
The idea to bring Judy Shepard to speak at a Community Conversation was sparked after a workshop the Los Angeles office held last fall on homophobia in history and today. The response from educators showed how much they need more tools to navigate these conversations in the classroom. One of the teachers who attended the workshop shared her experience with Shepard: 
I was afraid of talking about homophobia in my classroom, after your workshop I am no longer fearful of having honest and meaningful discussions with my students. My students welcomed the idea of talking about homophobia and voicing their concerns. Throughout the year I have embedded discussions about discrimination into my lesson plans. I know that I stopped hearing "that's gay" at least inside my classroom. I know that I have reached out to students who were also afraid of speaking out against homophobia. Two weeks ago I had a student who told me he was gay and that our class discussions had meant a lot to him. Building an environment where all types of discrimination are not tolerated in my classroom, makes me feel like I have achieved a great deal.
Watch a video of Facing History students in Palo Alto challenge the phrase "That's so gay"
Learn more about Facing History resources on homophobia in history and today and on bullying and ostracism
View upcoming Los Angeles Events
