Jason Marsden

Jason Marsden (1972-2025) was an award-winning journalist, environmental advocate, and civil rights leader. Born in Minnesota and raised in Sheridan, Wyoming, Marsden graduated from Harvard University before beginning his career as an investigative reporter at the Casper Star-Tribune. As founding executive director of Wyoming Conservation Voters, he advocated for hunters, anglers, and public access to Wyoming's outdoors, playing a pivotal role in creating the Wyoming Wildlife Trust Fund. Marsden later served as executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation in Denver, working internationally to promote LGBTQ+ equality, before concluding his career with the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association in Colorado.

University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard, who was openly gay, was brutally beaten in October 1998 by Aaron McKinney and Russell Henderson. Shepard died several days later. The incident received international media coverage and continues to spark controversy about hate crimes. Shepard’s parents, Judy and Dennis, established a foundation in Matthew’s name, which continues its pro-LGBT educational work today.

Matthew Shepard Foundation Executive Director Jason Marsden was working as a Casper Star-Tribune reporter in October 1998 when his friend Matt Shepard was murdered. In this essay, Marsden examines the effects of the worldwide media attention that the crime brought to the state of Wyoming at that time and since.