Twenty years after his brutal beating and death by thugs, Matthew Shepard's ashes will come to rest this month in the Washington National Cathedral crypt with other famous Americans including Helen Keller and Woodrow Wilson.

After his death, in 1998 his parents decided not to have a burial in Wyoming where his grave might be vandalized by homophobic low types. His burial in an Episcopal service performed by a gay Episcopal bishop seemed fitting since Matthew was an active member of that church and even serving as an acolyte.

Following his death Matthew became a rally cry for gay rights. A Federal anti hate crime law bears his name. Movies, TV, and the theater recorded his story and in the process sensitized many people to the harsh realities that young people face in life.

Remarkable has been the process in gay civil rights since his tragic death. The first US State to have legalized gay marriage was four years after Matthew was murdered. Ten years later gay marriage was legalized in all fifty states, and today ten percent of all gay couples are legally married. For more on Burial and Service at the National Cathedral, Click on Matthew Shepard.