"A courageous, eloquent, and devoted mother...gives us all a greater understanding of Matthew and the larger meaning of his life." -Senator Edward M. Kennedy Today, Matthew Shepard is synonymous with gay rights, but until 1998, he was just Judy Shepard"s son. In The Meaning of Matthew, Judy Shepard confides how she handled her crippling loss in the public eye, the vigils and protests held by strangers in her son"s name, and ultimately how she and her husband gained the courage to help prosecutors convict her son"s murderers. Heart-wrenchingly honest, The Meaning of Matthew is an unforgettable and inspiring story, chronicling one ordinary woman"s struggle to cope with the unthinkable.