PRESS RELEASE
October 27, 2009
 
Parents of Ryan Skipper Comment on Wednesday's Signing of the Matthew Shepard Act
Son Damien to Attend White House Ceremony
Damien To The Right, Behind Obama
Ryan's brother, Damien Skipper, attends the White House signing of the Matthew Shepard Act on October 28th.  Damien and his wife, Tricia, were invited to the long-awaited event along with Judy Shepard and Elke Kennedy.  U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, a co-sponsor of the legislation, had personally extended an invitation to Ryan's family.  Lynn and Pat remained in Bartow for the trial. Photo Courtesy ACCESSORY TO MURDER: Our Culture's Complicity in the Death of Ryan Skipper: http://www.ryanskipperdocumentary.com/trialnews.html
 
We are happy that the Matthew Shepard Act, adding sexual orientation and gender identity to the existing federal hate crimes law, will finally be signed into law at the White House on Wednesday, October 28, by President Obama.  We are pleased that our son, Damien, and his wife Tricia, will be in attendance at the signing.  We would be attending the signing ceremony at the White House pursuant to the invitation extended to us by U.S. Representive Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, except that we are currently attending the murder trial of the man accused of murdering our son, which is the reason that the Matthew Shepard Act is so important.  Had this legislation passed at an earlier date, the men who killed our son, Ryan Skipper, would have faced an additional federal charge, with an additional punishment, and there would have been federal resources available that would have enabled a thorough investigation of the anti-gay bias surrounding this horrible crime.  Tragically, none of that currently applies today at the murder trial for the man accused of killing our son.
 
Thank you,
Ryan's Parents
Lynn and Patricia Mulder
 
Depending on Pop-Up Blocker Close Windoe or: Use Browser Back Button or Close Window to Return to Facebook, GLEE, I-Peace, ImGay TV. ImpACT Florida, Pridebook, Plaxo, Twitter, or PTB's My Space, or Pride Tampa Bay's Website