Editing Matthew Shepard (section)

===In popular culture===
{{main|Cultural depictions of Matthew Shepard}}
Matthew Shepard's life, death, trial, and its aftermath have inspired [[Cultural depictions of Matthew Shepard|numerous works]], including documentary and narrative films and television shows, stage plays (such as ''[[The Laramie Project]]''), and musical and written works. Additionally, [[NBA]] player [[Jason Collins]] wore the jersey number "98" in honor of Shepard during his 2012–13 season with the [[Boston Celtics]] and the [[Washington Wizards]], and he would come out as [[gay]] following the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Matthew Shepard's Mom Moved to Tears by Jason Collins's Gesture|author=Grindley, Lucas|url=http://www.advocate.com/sports/2013/05/01/matthew-shepards-mom-moved-tears-jason-collinss-gesture|newspaper=The Advocate|date=May 1, 2013|access-date=October 7, 2013|archive-date=December 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202231859/http://www.advocate.com/sports/2013/05/01/matthew-shepards-mom-moved-tears-jason-collinss-gesture|url-status=live}}</ref> After Collins joined the [[Brooklyn Nets]] in 2014, NBA marketing reported high interest in his "98" jersey<ref>{{cite news|title=A Sudden Demand for No. 98 Jerseys|newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/sports/basketball/jason-collins-nets-jerseys-set-to-go-on-sale.html|date=February 25, 2014|access-date=February 11, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201054758/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/25/sports/basketball/jason-collins-nets-jerseys-set-to-go-on-sale.html|url-status=live|last1=Berkman |first1=Seth }}</ref> and high sales once the item became available for purchase.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/10515923/jason-collins-jersey-brooklyn-nets-made-available-high-demand|title=Jason Collins' No. 98 for sale|first=Mike|last=Mazzeo|date=February 27, 2014|access-date=April 17, 2014|publisher=ESPN|quote=four of the top five best-selling items ... are Collins items|archive-date=April 18, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140418220529/http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/story/_/id/10515923/jason-collins-jersey-brooklyn-nets-made-available-high-demand|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24457433/jason-collins-jersey-skyrockets-to-no-1-on-sales-list|title=Jason Collins' jersey skyrockets to No. 1 on sales list|first=Matt|last=Moore|date=February 26, 2014|access-date=April 17, 2014|work=CBS Sports|archive-date=May 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527100615/http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/24457433/jason-collins-jersey-skyrockets-to-no-1-on-sales-list|url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed]]'', is a 2009 biographical book by Judy Shepard about her son. Judy Shepard speaks about her loss, her family memories of Matthew, and the tragic event that changed the Shepards' lives and America. ''The Meaning of Matthew'' follows the Shepard family in the days immediately after the crime to see their incapacitated son, kept alive by life support machines; how the Shepards learned of the huge public response, the candlelit vigils and memorial services for their child; and their struggles to navigate the legal system.<ref name="mmatthew"/>

American musician [[Tori Amos]] frequently dedicated her 1998 song "Merman" to Shepard, at the request of fans following her tours at the time.<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Tori's Glory |date=November 1999 |magazine=[[Attitude (magazine)|Attitude]] |first=Tori |last=Amos |quote=So yeah, Merman is that. When I was touring last year and Matthew Shepard got murdered I was dedicating it to him. }}</ref>

In 1999, American singer-songwriter [[Melissa Etheridge]] released the song "[[Scarecrow (song)|Scarecrow]]" in Shepard's memory, from her sixth studio album ''[[Breakdown (Melissa Etheridge album)|Breakdown]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Lewis |first=Randy |date=1999-12-09 |title= Battling Society's Monsters |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-dec-09-ca-41987-story.html |work=Los Angeles Times |access-date=2023-10-19 |quote=Amid the signature songs of tortured love on Melissa Etheridge's new album, "Breakdown," is "Scarecrow," her scathing response to last year's beating death in Wyoming of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay college student.}}</ref>

In 2006, American metal band [[Trivium (band)|Trivium]] released the song "[[And Sadness Will Sear]]", which was written as a tribute and reminder about Shepard's murder.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Powell |first=Austin |title=Trivium's 'Crusade' |date=February 22, 2007 |url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2007-02-22/449844/ |access-date=2024-04-13 |newspaper=The Austin Chronicle |language=en-US}}</ref>