First I would like to thank each and every one of you for the e-mail expressing your gratitude and support. As of today, I have received over 600 e-mails and am very glad to say that only one has been negative. This one e-mail actually had the audacity to criticize Matthew Shepard because he did not live a "christian" lifestyle. Which I would also like to add that this "christian" lifestyle he spoke of was of his ideals and his alone. From the multitude of mail I have received from other Christians, this is not in any way the general view by them. But with every barrel, there will always be a bad apple.

This in itself is exactly the point I am trying to make with the tribute to Matthew. We should get to know someone before we judge them. The author of the afore mentioned e-mail went on to say that if Matthew were to have lived, he would have never amounted to anything. Sitting in bars and practicing that (as he put it) gay crap. He never knew Matthew as a person but was already all to willing to judge him. To judge him because he was gay. Could someone please explain to me why these type of "christians" claim to live by the "Word of God," yet continuously forget the golden rule? The one line in the bible that God himself spoke over and over from beginning to end.

Secondly I would also like to clarify that I did not know Matthew personally but, like most of you, felt drawn to him and saddened by his death. In this sadness is where I conceived the idea for the animation. An idea that I could symbolize, in some way, Matthew's tragedy and turn it into a new hope. A "call to arms" against bigotry and hate. Once again, I didn't know Matthew, but from reading about his devotion to human rights, I can only hope that I am doing what he would have wanted to do himself.

There are two wishes that I would like see come true from all of this. One being that his parents see the animation and know that my heart goes out to them. The second is for the world to hear the words spoken in the animation and come together. A "Gathering of Friends." A march of sorts, but not a march with an agenda. Not a "million man" march or a "gay pride" march. But a march where people come together to show one another that they have a friend. A march where we will really "stand together...as one...with unity." And in one voice we speak "We are here to remember Matthew Shepard as a friend to us all, as a friend to those who knew him and those of us that didn't. We are here to say that we will NEVER allow this to happen again. We are here to say that bigotry and hate is not the way of God, that love and understanding of ALL people is! Forever more, we speak as one!" And although their will be people there that will protest this change, no one will hear them. No one will listen.

Thank you once again,
Kevin Funderburk

The animation was created using Flash 2. You will need to have the Shockwave plug-in for your browser. There is an "enter" button below that will appear if you already have the Shockwave plug. If you do not see anything, then go here SHOCKWAVE PLUG. The download is fast, easy and begins working as soon as it's finished. Then just return here and proceed into the site by clicking the enter button.