The United States Postal Service is rejecting the idea of a U.S. postal stamp honoring murdered gay college student Matthew Shepard for being too “negative.” The reasoning has shocked LGBTQ leaders who have called for such a commemorative stamp to be issued.
Bob Lehman, a gay man who founded American Veterans for Equal Rights based in San Diego, had sent the postal service a letter in support of the Shepard stamp. He was surprised to receive a letter dated March 15 informing him it didn’t meet the criteria used by the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee for selecting who and what is featured on commemorative stamps.
“Unfortunately, this subject does not meet current criteria for commemoration on a postage stamp. The stamp program commemorates positive contributions to American life, history, culture and environment; therefore, negative occurrences and disasters will not be commemorated on U.S. postage stamps or stationery,” wrote Shawn P. Quinn, manager for stamp development.