Apr 11, 2008  |  By: KATHERINE VOLIN  | COMMENTS     

has seen his mother and his father go through this movement over the past few years and has been sort of firsthand witness to the fight that Judy has been through,” Howard says.

The impact of his work is difficult to measure, Howard says, but Logan says his blog has received encouraging feedback.

“So far, it’s been really positive. People are happy that I’m expressing my opinions and trying to help as much as I can,” Logan says. Although he’s uncertain what his eventual future at the foundation will look like, he says for the moment he’s trying to learn everything about the organization, from the inside out.

HAVING THE TRAUMA of his brother’s death present every day at work is an unrelenting reality for Logan, who says the emotional response he feels is mostly manageable.

“Sometimes it takes its toll, but for the most part I’ve gotten used to it [by] just dealing with it in every day life,” he says. “Every once in a while, it’ll take its toll or I’ll need a break, but I’ve pretty much gotten over that stage.”

Socially, being Matthew Shepard’s brother is only as difficult or uncomfortable as other people make it.

“It’s been so long that people don’t put two and two together right away. They’ll start asking questions and I’ll start answering them and it dawns on them what I mean,” he says. “It’s easier for me when people ask questions rather than skirt the subject. I think it becomes more awkward when they learn who I am and try to avoid the situation.”

Logan is someone who embraces life’s challenges with passion, Howard says.

“I haven’t met a young person as passionate or committed for the cause as Logan,” Howard says. “Some people might see that as an uncommon bedfellow or uncommon ally, that it would be this straight boy from Wyoming, but I have not met someone who’s a more fervent activist for equality.”