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"We need a change of heart."

SCHOLARSHIPS HONOR GAY VICTIM

By Jonathan Roos, Register Staff Writer

A mother's grief and the struggle of gay Americans for acceptance made Gov. Tom Vilsack's announcement Thursday of a new college scholarship program anything but ordinary.

Vilsack was joined by Judy Shepard, the mother of a Wyoming college student murdered in 1998 because he was gay, as he announced full scholarships in her son's name. The annual scholarships will go to three openly gay Iowa high school graduates who attend one of the three state universities.

"I think we need a change of heart, and that is essentially what this is all about," said Vilsack, a Democrat whose support for gay civil rights has stirred controversy in the Republican-controlled Legislature. "It's about a recognition that words ultimately lead to deeds, and deeds ultimately lead to sadness and grief and unfortunately in Matthew Shepard's case, death."

The scholarships, sponsored by Des Moines gay and lesbian organizations and paid by a charitable foundation, are "a way of expressing hope," he said.

Members of those groups and representatives of the state universities joined Vilsack and Lt. Gov. Sally Pederson in applauding the national crusade of Judy Shepard against homophobia and hate crimes. She also spoke at Iowa State University Thursday night.

"To lose Matt in such a senseless act of violence is a wound that will never heal," Shepard said.

"My hope is that these scholarships and their recipients will be able to live their lives free of fear fear of discrimination of hate and fear of physical harm," she said.

Vilsack's prominent role in the Capitol rotunda news conference raised eyebrows among some social conservatives.

"I think he's made his position pretty clear. He's committed to promoting homosexuality, so it doesn't surprise me," said former state Republican legislator Chuck Hurley, now president of the Iowa Family Policy Center.

Hurley agreed, however, with the governor's stand against violence, saying "any assault or murder of anyone is absolutely reprehensible."

As other speakers at the news conference indicated, Vilsack has brought a major change to the governor's office in displaying a willingness to advance the cause of civil rights for gays.

He said an executive order he issued last year extending civil rights protection to people employed by the state who are gay or identify with the opposite sex "was a way of suggesting that we are a state government that would not discriminate."

Republican leaders are pushing a bill through the Legislature that would nullify the order. They say Vilsack overstepped his authority. They deny they are attempting the action because the order has to do with gays. Vilsack is certain to veto the bill.

The First Friday Breakfast Club, an association of gay men, and its lesbian counterpart, the Lambda Beta Nu breakfast club, are sponsors of the scholarships for openly gay high school graduates. The awards will be financed by the Rich Eychaner Charitable Foundation.

Travis Green, an ISU graduate student who heads a group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, said Matthew Shepard's death energizes his goal to erase ignorance and discrimination against gay students at ISU. The group provides support for gay students and educates the campus community, he said.

Box insert

SHEPARD SCHOLARSHIP

TO APPLY:Gay and lesbian Iowa high school students may apply for a Matthew Shepard Scholarship by contacting Jonathan Wilson, president of the First Friday Breakfast Club, 666 Walnut St., Suite 2500, Des Moines, Iowa 50309-3993. They also may call (515) 288-2500 to reach Wilson. The application deadline for this year's scholarships is April 25.

IN-STATE COSTS:The awards cover tuition, fees and books at the University of Iowa, Iowa State University and University of Northern Iowa. They are renewable for up to four years.

A GRISLY DEATH BECAUSE HE WAS GAY

Associated Press

SLAYING: Matthew Shepard, 21, a University of Wyoming student, died in October 1998 after being found unconscious, brutally eaten and tied to a roadside fence post near Laramie.

CHARGED:Two high school dropouts Russell Henderson, 21, and Aaron McKinney, 22 were charged with kidnaping Shepard and beating him to death.

PUBLICITY: The case gained international attention because of its grisly nature and because of allegations that Henderson and McKinney singled out Shepard solely because he was gay. Prosecutors said the pair lured Shepard with them from a bar by pretending to be friendly, then held him and beat him and tied him to the fence post.

HEALING: At the close of McKinney's trial, Shepard's parents helped save the killer from a death sentence by asking the court to settle for two life sentences because, they said, it was time for healing to begin.

THE CONVICTIONS

RUSSELL HENDERSON: The high school dropout pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two life sentences, for felony murder and for kidnaping.

AARON McKINNEY: A pal of Henderson, was convicted by a jury and was sentenced to two life sentences.

CHASTITY PASLEY: Henderson's 20-year-old girlfriend pleaded guilty to being an accessory to murder. She was sentenced to two years in prison.

KRISTEN PRICE: McKinney's 19-year-old girlfriend pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of interfering with a police officer for helping to hide McKinney's blood-stained clothes. Price was sentenced to 180 days in jail.

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