The Laramie Project Notes

• Man was murdered in Laramie, Wyoming
• Because he was gay
• Theatre company traveled to Wyoming to conduct interviews to try and create a play about the man killed
• Some citizens don’t want to talk about it-questioned/offended
• Small town, 26,000 people, not a lot going on
• “Hate is not a Laramie value” on hotel billboard sign
• Homophobia
• Catholic town-following bible
• Matthew Sheppard
• Small guy, 5’2” 97 lbs one witness said
• Had money-dressed nice (jealousy)
• Wants to be known as Matt
• Open about his sexuality
• Going to a gay bar
• Trying to go to University of Wyoming, moved to Laramie
• Joined LGBTQ group on campus, pride parade,
• He was really happy at the university
• Human rights
• One witness says the people don’t care about sexuality, while others say people would be ashamed to be seen with someone who was gay
• Farm country
• Incident that happened at bar
• Someone said Matt came on a few straight guys and approached them
• One of Matts friends doesn’t believe it
• Matt was found in the middle of a field alone
• Kids were suspects that everyone in the town semi-knew (Russel and Aaron)
• Known as pretty good kids
• Leave with them to a remote area (after knowing he was gay)
• Struck in head with pistol
• Tied him to fence, robbed, tortured, terrorized him
• Unresponsive at the scene
• Hypothermia, brain bleed and pressure
• His state was beyond what the hospital could do to help him
• Hundreds of reporters outside courthouse after first hearing
• Everywhere in town, on campus
• The news caused a lot of controversy and unrest in Laramie
• Some argued “bad apple once in a while” or “wrong place wrong time”