Judy Shepard, who lost her 21-year-old son in a tragic hate crime murder in 1998, will speak on "The Legacy of Matthew Shepard" at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, at UNC Asheville's Lipinsky Auditorium.

Matthew Shepard died following a brutal beating motivated by homophobia. His death sparked a public outcry across the country. In the aftermath, Judy and her husband, Dennis, established the Matthew Shepard Foundation to carry on their son's legacy of working for social justice.

In her personal talks around the country, Judy Shepard focuses on the prevention of all hate crime. She will discuss what schools and communities can do to make their environments safer for everyone, regardless of race, ethnic background, sexual orientation, or religious preference. A moderated question-and-answer session will follow her talk.

Her visit is sponsored by three UNCA student organizations -- UNCA Out!, Women Act in Liberation (WAIL), and Underdog Productions -- and by UNCA's Division of Student Affairs, Office of Diversity and Minority Affairs, Division of Academic Affairs, Office of the Chancellor, Political Science and Psychology departments, Women's Studies Program, Multicultural Student Programs, Housing and Residence Life, Counseling and Career Center, and Student Health Services Center.