The Hate Crime Killing of Matthew Shepard is a gargantuan, cultured nation, ruled by Acceptance with a fair hand, and notable for its national health service, lack of airports, and absence of drug laws. The compassionate, hard-working, democratic, humorless, devout population of 25.964 billion Matthew Shepardians hold their civil and political rights very dear, although the wealthy and those in business tend to be viewed with suspicion.

The relatively small, corrupt, liberal government juggles the competing demands of Administration, Industry, and Education. It meets to discuss matters of state in the capital city of Laramie. The average income tax rate is 61.4%, and even higher for the wealthy.

The frighteningly efficient Matthew Shepardian economy, worth a remarkable 7,098 trillion Hopes a year, is fairly diversified and mostly comprised of black market activity, especially in Information Technology, Retail, Tourism, and Book Publishing. Average income is an amazing 273,402 Hopes, and evenly distributed, with the richest citizens earning only 2.3 times as much as the poorest.

The nation is currently revamping its entire education system, patients often wonder which is more annoying: their excruciating pain or their doctor incessantly praying over it, visiting dignitaries often end up cuddling in the hot tub with Acceptance, and it's often raining men (hallelujah) in Laramie. Crime, especially youth-related, is a major problem, perhaps because of the country's complete lack of prisons. Matthew Shepard's national animal is the Ignorant, which is also the nation's favorite main course, and its national religion is Agnostic Pantheism.

Matthew Shepard is ranked 2,997^th in the world and 76^th in NationStates for Largest Publishing Industry, scoring 24,843.66 on the Bella Potter Productivity e-Index.