Photo Flash: Ford's Theatre Holds Vigil for Matthew Shepard and National Coming Out Day

The weekend of October 11, 2013, marks the 15th year since gay college student Matthew Shepard was abducted, tied to a fence, beaten and left to die by two assailants in Laramie, Wyoming. His murder claimed national and international attention and has become one of the most widely known anti-gay hate crimes in American history.

Following Ford's Theatre's evening performance of the play The Laramie Project, the public was invited to participate in a candlelight vigil in memory of Matthew Shepard's life and in recognition of National Coming Out Day.

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The performance and vigil were held at First Congregational United Church of Christ (945 G Street NW)-the space where the Ford's Theatre Society has been performing since the historic Ford's Theatre has been closed due to government shutdown.

At the event: Paul R. Tetreault, Director Ford's Theatre Society; Dennis Shepard (Matthew Shepard's father);Rev. Dwayne Johnson of Metropolitan Community Church of Washington; Ole Miss college student Garrison Gibbons (20-year-old openly gay junior who made national news when more than a dozen Ole Miss football players and other students heckled him and other student actors as they performed "The Laramie Project" on Oct. 1); members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, directed by Dr. Thea Kano; cast members of the Ford's Theatre production of The Laramie Project, others.

Photo Credit: Erin Granzow/Reflections Photography, Washington, D.C.

Attendees of the candlelight vigil hosted by Ford's Theatre Society in honor of Matthew Shepard and National Coming Out Day in Washington, D.C., October 11, 2013.

Fordâ€s Theatre Society Director Paul R. Tetreault speaks

Attendees of the candlelight vigil

Dennis Shepard speaks

Dennis Shepard speaks

The candlelight vigil hosted by Fordâ€s Theatre Society in honor of Matthew Shepard and National Coming Out Day in Washington, D.C., October 11, 2013.

Fordâ€s Theatre Society Director Paul R. Tetreault speaks

Twenty-year-old student Garrison Gibbons from Ole Miss speaks

Rev. Dwayne Johnson leads an interfaith moment of silence.

Attendees of the candlelight vigil

Attendees of the candlelight vigil

Members of Washingtonâ€s Gay Menâ€s Chorus perform

Members of Washingtonâ€s Gay Menâ€s Chorus perform

Fordâ€s Theatre Society staff members

Fordâ€s Theatre Society Director Paul R. Tetreault and Garrison Gibbons

Dennis Shepard speaks with members of the Fordâ€s Theatre Society cast of “The Laramie Project,â€? following the show performance and candlelight vigil.

Dennis Shepard with Fordâ€s Theatre Society “The Laramie Projectâ€? cast members Kimberly Schraf and Chris Stezin

Dennis Shepard with Fordâ€s Theatre Society “The Laramie Projectâ€? cast member Mitchell Hebert

Dennis Shepard with Fordâ€s Theatre Society Director Paul R. Tetreault

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