A documentary film about the life of Matthew Shepard will be shown at Lake Tahoe Community College on Oct. 12 at 7:30pm in the Duke Theatre.

Tickets are $5 at the door.

In October 1998, two men lured Matthew Shepard, a gay freshman at the University of Wyoming, from a bar in Laramie. He was kidnapped and driven to a field where he was tied to a fence, beaten, and left to die because he was gay.

A new documentary, “Matthew Shepard is a Friend of Mine”, explores the life and tragic death of Matthew Shepard through a personal lens. The film follows Michele Josue, director of the film and a close friend of Shepard’s, as she travels to pivotal locations in his life, interviewing friends and family members, and gaining insight into the life and devastating loss of Matthew Shepard.

Shepard’s murder was a shocking tragedy that made headlines around the world. As people denounced the hatred and senseless violence that caused Matthew’s death, a much-needed dialogue about hate crimes and intolerance began. This set the stage for the landmark Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act that was signed into law by President Obama in 2009.

The LTCC Theater Department is one of a handful of organizations across the country that will be presenting this film on or around the 15-year anniversary of Shepard’s death. The film will have its world premiere on Oct. 4 on both coasts simultaneously with a screening at the Mill Valley Film Festival and at an event hosted by the Washington National Cathedral.

In addition to the film screening, the LTCC Theater Arts Department will present the play “The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later” in November.

For more information, call (530) 541.4660, ext. 240.