Many on social media questioned how the ideals of the Matthew Shepard Foundation reconciled with an LGBT business they felt discriminated against transgender and lesbian people. This year's Bear-lesque event took place at the Denver Wrangler. The Matthew Shepard Foundation's Bear-lesque to Make a Difference has become an annual part of the weekend preceding the organization’s big Denver gala, Bear to Make a Difference. However, this month the foundation created in Matthew’s name and the gay bar known for its one-time hostility toward female patrons and a very controversial 'gender matching' ID policy - where the gender of patrons' photo identifications had to match their presenting appearance - came together for a charity event. Those two events are not easily seen as relevant to each other.
Almost one year earlier, Chris Dawkins and his then-business partner opened the Denver Wrangler bar.
Americans first learned Matthew Shepard’s name when he was brutally murdered for being gay 19 years ago.
