The legacy of Ryan Skipper lives on. And many others, too.
Skipper's 2007 murder won't be forgotten, thanks to Scott Hall and the Gay American Heroes Foundation ( GAHF ) .
"GAHF started because of the lack of media coverage on the gruesome murder of Ryan Skipper, a 25-year-old openly gay Winter Haven ( Fla. ) man whose body was dumped on the side of a road after being beaten, stabbed 20 times and [ having ] his throat slit," Hall said. "Ryan was the spark that lit a long-overdue fire burning in my heart.
"It was my mom who taught me how to love, my brother who taught me how to fight; my best friend/mentor Jack Nichols who gave me knowledge and wisdom; and Ryan Skipper who gave me the courage to speak out.
Hall said he founded GAHF to "fight hate on the frontlines in America."
The group's slogan is "WE FIGHT HATE TOGETHER OR WE DIE ALONE AT THE HANDS OF HATE!"
"I needed a way to tell the stories of so many folks that have been and are still being murdered for being themselves," Hall said. "I first had to come up with a name which embodied, with precision, who these folks were that we we're honoring and I thought of 'Gay American Heroes.'
"Second, it was important to design a memorial that really stood out, and made a statement. It also had to be flexible yet durable with lots of color, and also water-proof for outside events. This was no easy task for an eighth-grader like me. Yes, I am often times smarter than a fifth-grader, but only made it thru the eighth-grade.
"My goals [ for the GAHF ] are to honor those who have been taken from us because of hate and to give hope to LGBTQ people who live in fear for being themselves. It is important to let everyone know that there are people out there who love you for who you are and that we are standing up for you every day. It is nice to be able to show people, even in the smallest way, that brighter days are ahead and you are loved for who you are. We also want to shine a huge rainbow light on hate and on those who teach it so that we together can help stop people from poisoning our schools, communities and nation with a narrative of intolerance, misinformation, and hate."
The GAHF has not yet completed its full-size Rainbow Memorial, but there is an eight-foot model that Hall and the group have been showing across the county since 2007. The GAHF is in the process of fundraising to build the larger memorial.
To date, the model has made about 90 stops across the country, with appearances at colleges; pride events; the state capitol building in Tallahassee; and special events such as the premiere of the film Milk, held in the lobby of San Francisco's Castro Theatre.
"People have been so kind with their words of support [ for the memorial, ] " Hall said. "They are very moved to see the faces and hear from us about the stories of each hero. Everyone who spends just a little bit of time interacting with the exhibit thanks us [ for ] educating them about hate crime murderers that happen around us still. So many people have given their unconditional love for the Rainbow Memorial; it makes me want to cry."
And the GAHF certainly has some high-profile supporters, such as Cyndi Lauper, who was the first A-list star to offer help.
"She immediately got what we were doing and started to cry when I told her the Ryan Skipper story and [ then ] asked, 'How can I help?'" Hall said.
The GAHF also has been supported by luminaries such as Alan Cumming, Cynthia Nixon, Barney Frank, Daniela Sea and David Mixner, Hall said.
"There are so many people who have offered us encouragement and support," Hall said. "They are all amazing people who have lent their name, talents and support. I often smile thinking that Ryan [ Skipper ] is the one who brought them all them together for this memorial."
Hall's goal is to unveil the National Traveling Rainbow Memorial this summer in Washington, D.C.
"I look forward to witness the power of the Rainbow Memorial as it shines a light on the horrible things that happen because of hate while inspiring love and acceptance of everyone," Hall said.
Hall is the lone full-time employee for the GAHF, which also boasts a board of directors and advisory board, and has loads of volunteers "who inspire me every day to build and travel the memorial and speak out for those who have been taken from us," Hall said.
So why do it?
"Because one LGBTQ hate crime-related murder happens every nine days in the U.S.," Hall said. "One LGBTQ-bashing incident happens every six hours, and this statistic is probably low because law enforcement officials often report these crimes as just another robbery or random act of violence and not a hate crime.
"We have cases here in Broward County, Fla., that are clearly LGBTQ-related hate crimes that are being covered up. And for three years in a row, Broward Country has the highest number of hate crimes in Florida. This is a big problem, and GAHF is out there raising awareness and trying to hold people accountable."
Hall said family members of many victims are members of the GAHF advisory board.
"I believe with all my heart that the Rainbow Memorial will be a national experience for everyone that will help grow the national conversation about hate crimes against LGBTQ and other groups in America, and, in turn, start to hold the people who teach hate accountable for their actions," Hall said. "Hate is poison, and those who teach it are poisonous, and need to be held accountable for their teachings and insidious actions. The hate that led to the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is the same type of hate that led to the murder of Matthew Sheppard and so many others.
"I believe the Rainbow Memorial will build relationships and break down barriers of misunderstanding about LGBTQ, who are real and loving people just like everybody else and are an important and vital part of the fabric of America. LGBTQ should be embraced and cultivated, not feared and hated. We must confront hate where and when it happens, in whatever form be it obvious or showed in convoluted language. Those who kill/murder thrive on sending a message of fear and terror and it is our responsibility as a community to counter act that message and stand up to hate on the frontlines. If we sit back and do not challenge those who hate and spread their hurtful message, then it is the same as condoning their behavior. And that's not going to happen on my watch."
