Matthew Shephard was killed in a botched drug deal. Not because he was a degenerate homosexual. At the murder trial, evidence of anti-gay sentiment was not even introduced.
Yes, it was not introduced because there is good evidence available that at least one of the killers was Shepard's sometimes homosexual lover. Shepard was familiar with these men, and it was purely a drug deal gone bad. Police have confirmed this, but the truth couldn't overcome the contrived narrative.