Love your gay child
It would be trite to say Christmas is a difficult time for Mark and Faye Leveson and their family. Sadly it is all too true this year, as they come to terms with the not-guilty verdict handed down in their son鈥檚 murder case, and their quest to find and put to rest his body.
It has been two years since 20-year-old Matthew Leveson went missing after a night out at Arq on September 23, 2007.
Initially Leveson was thought to be the victim of a gay-hate crime but police later turned their attention to Michael Atkins, Leveson鈥檚 older lover.
Following a four-week trial this year, and five days of jury deliberations, Atkins was found not guilty 鈥� a verdict Matthew鈥檚 mother Faye told Sydney Star Observer she 鈥渏ust can鈥檛 come to terms with鈥�.
With Matthew鈥檚 body not yet found, the Leveson family have created their own memorial by having tattoos.
In terms of a wider legacy, Mark and Faye have a piece of advice 鈥� love your gay sons and daughters. No matter what.
鈥淐hristmas gets harder each year for us,鈥� Faye said.
鈥淥ut of my boys, he was the one who loved the Christmas lights, he loved the whole concept of Christmas, and that鈥檚 all been taken away from him.
鈥淗e鈥檚 been robbed of his life, and his family and friends have been robbed of someone they loved and loved to have a good time with.
鈥淢atthew was a vibrant, beautiful, fun-loving, would give the shirt off his back to help a friend kind of person. Nothing was too much trouble if his friends were in need.
鈥淗e was always there for anybody. He supported us through quite a few hard times, and he was always there for his brothers.
鈥淓very time [the defence] tried to mention the gay scene, they tried to make it seem dirty, and it鈥檚 not. It angered us, because it made it seem dirty and sleazy, but there鈥檚 no difference between a gay relationship and a straight relationship.鈥�
To Matthew鈥檚 father Mark, being gay was irrelevant. 鈥淣othing changes … though his fashion sense changed a bit,鈥� he said with a slight laugh.
Faye advised other parents, 鈥淎ccept them, accept them no matter who they are.鈥�
Losing their son prompted the Levesons to deliver a heartfelt message to those parents who may struggle when their son or daughter comes out.
鈥淲hether they鈥檙e gay, lesbian, bi, straight, they鈥檙e who they are, and they鈥檝e still got beautiful hearts and they鈥檙e still your children,鈥� Faye said.
鈥淓mbrace them. Love them. Don鈥檛 shun them.鈥�
According to Mark, the family is looking for legal avenues to resurrect the case. He said the prosecutor is scouring transcripts looking for grounds for appeal.
Their other hope is that someone may come forward with new evidence, which may lead to the discovery of Matthew鈥檚 body.
鈥淭hat would mean everything to have his body,鈥� Mark said.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 have a memorial for him, because we can鈥檛 place something in the ground, so we鈥檝e all had tattoos done to commemorate Matt.
鈥淪omebody has to know something,鈥� Faye continued, appealing to anyone from the community to come forward if they know something.
鈥淲e鈥檒l find him. I鈥檒l get the evidence, and we鈥檒l eventually get justice.鈥�
info: If you have any information that may help police with the investigation into Matthew鈥檚 disappearance, phone Crime Stoppers on聽 1800 333 000.
Whats the latest updates on this tragic story:
Have they catched the killer and locked him up yet???????
Having been through a similar situation when my business partner, Stephen Dempsey, was murdered in 1994, my heart goes out to Matthew’s family and friends. At least we got a result in Stephen’s case, he was only missing for 5 months, and we at least recovered his torso. His murderer was sentenced to life meaning life and will never be released. To the Levesons, I sincerely hope that you find Matt and evidence which could reopen the case and result in the conviction of the person responsible for his disappearence. Have the best Christmas that you can under the circumstances.
RIP Matthew Leveson
From one “Shire” gay boi to the next.
mwah xxoo
p.s. May the Leveson Family have a beautiful holiday season.
I know this is tragic and not so nice story, But I would like to Second everything Mrs Leveson has said about parent supporting and loving their Gay/Lesbian children, Some of us generally go through a bit of a rough time being gay and need as much support as we can get, especially before and around the times of coming out. ( I was lucky with my family ) but I know so many who would dis-own their children is they even thought that they were gay.
So I would like to say Thank You to the Leveson family for actually saying such kind words even though they would be going through a bit of a rough time at the moment. I hope that one day you can find justice and be able to give Matt the Memorial that he deserves.