Judy Shepard's book, The Meaning of Matthew: My Son's Murder in Laramie, and a World Transformed, was up for consideration at Appalachian State University for their summer reading book program. The book was ultimately not chosen, and the reasons given by Appalachian State University faculty are downright disturbing.

Professor Emory Maiden, the head of the summer reading program, said that Ms. Shepard didn't speak with the right kind of authenticity on subjects like hate-based violence, suggesting that she was "a grief-stricken mother [who] had gotten into print on a subject that she neither wholly understood nor have [sic] a broad experience with."

Professor Maiden doesn't believe that Judy Shepard understands hate-based violence? He doesn't believe that the 12+ years she dedicated to trying to pass hate crimes legislation counts as "broad experience"?

Talk about a failure. Demand that Professor Maiden and Appalachian State University retract their rather degrading and insulting comments about Ms. Shepard's work. Sure, the committee he runs should have every right to pick whatever books they want for their reading group. But Professor Maiden and others at the university shouldn't diminish and slight the record of one of the most well known activists in the country. Simply put, without Ms. Shepard's hard work over the past decade, there likely wouldn't be hate crimes legislation today.

Send Appalachian State University and Professor Maiden a message that their words were wrong and insulting.