Filmmaker Michele Josue talks about her new
documentary MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of
OUTTAKE VOICES™. This October will mark
fifteen years since Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered in Laramie,
Wyoming just because he was gay. MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE
explores the human side of Shepard. Josue, as a close friend of Matt,
travels to pivotal locations in Shepard’s life, interviewing other
friends and family members and gaining insight into the beautiful life
and dev...
Filmmaker Michele Josue talks about her new
documentary MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE with Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of
OUTTAKE VOICES™. This October will mark
fifteen years since Matthew Shepard was brutally murdered in Laramie,
Wyoming just because he was gay. MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE
explores the human side of Shepard. Josue, as a close friend of Matt,
travels to pivotal locations in Shepard’s life, interviewing other
friends and family members and gaining insight into the beautiful life
and devastating loss of Matthew Shepard. The film will have its
coast-to-coast world premieres on October 4th at both the Mill Valley
Film Festival in California and the Washington National Cathedral in
Washington D.C. We talked to Michele about her must-see documentary that
delivers a personal insight to Matt Shepard and her spin on our LGBT
issues.
When asked as a heterosexual woman what her personal commitment is to
LGBT civil rights Josue stated, “I think gay or straight, I think that
everyone should have a commitment to LGBT civil rights. You know gay
rights are human rights and the struggle affects all of us. For me it’s
really important to stand up for my gay family members, my gay friends,
Matt and all the Matt Shepards out there. To fight for their rights to
be acknowledged as equal members of society, deserving of every equality
that everyone else has. I believe we all have a tremendous
responsibility and obligation to each other as human beings to stand up
for each other. So I feel strongly about our film about Matt. It’s a
shame that our story can only aid the education process of those who
still don’t believe in equal rights for everyone. So through the film
I’m trying to do my part for LGBT equality.”
Filmmaker Michele Josue was born to Filipino immigrant parents and
raised in suburban Maryland. She met Matt Shepard while they were
attending The American School in Switzerland. This marks the fifteenth
anniversary since Matthew Shepard was kidnapped, tortured and tethered
to a fence left to die. Never regaining consciousness Matthew succumbed
to the severe injuries from the attack and died on October 12, 1998. In
2009 President Obama signed the LGBT inclusive Matthew Shepard and James
Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. MATT SHEPARD IS A FRIEND OF MINE
is currently playing the film festival circuit.
For Info & Schedule: mattshepardisafriendofmine.com
Hear 200+ LGBT Interviews @OUTTAKE VOICES™
