Spectrum, Ball State's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer organization, will host a memorial service today in honor of Matthew Shepard and anyone who has been bullied for their sexual orientation.
Sophomore design technology major Jaime Whitaker said education for the LGBTQ community is important.
"Just because you heard it on television doesn't mean you know what happens," he said.
Today is called Matthew Shepard Day, according to posters hung around campus. The vigil will take place at the Quad at 7 p.m. in memory of Shepard, who was tortured and murdered 13 years ago by two strangers who targeted him because of his apparent sexual orientation.
Junior psychology major J.P. Bechtel said the purpose of the event is to show support of the LGBTQ community and learn what bullying is and how it affects the people who are targeted.
"We will tell Matthew's story and have a moment of silence for him and all the LGBTQ that have been bullied," Bechtel, organizer for this event, said.
All attendees will receive a candle and march down campus.
"We will have a candlelight vigil around the Quad and have people tell stories of times they felt bullied or harassed, basically just have a discussion about bullying," Bechtel said.
In the memorial last year, 13 other LGBTQ murders and suicides were remembered. This year, both past and recent tragedies of the LGBTQ community will be remembered, such as Jamey Rodemeyer, a 14-year-old boy from Buffalo, N.Y., who committed suicide last month.
Whitaker said anyone who is able to attend should come to the memorial.
"[The memorial] is emotional and anyone that could attend should attend," Whitaker said. "It's truly an emotional journey. It doesn't sound like you're doing much, but you're touching the lives of so many people."
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