Act 3

Act three of The Laramie Project describes the effect the case had on the people of Laramie. It impacted so many people. "And when I got there, there were thousands of people in just black, with umbrellas everywhere.And there were two churches-one for immediate family, uh, invited guest, people of that nature, and then one church for everyone else who wanted to be there. And then, still, hundreds of people outside that couldn't fit int either of the churches. And there was a big park by the church, and that's where these people were. And this park was full" ( Moises Kaufman 75). The vest number of people that came to Matt's funeral showed how many people were moved by his story and wanted to be there to support him and his family as they said goodbye. This case didn't effect everyone in a positive way." But this murder is different, because the fags are bringing us out here trying to make Matthew Shepard into a poster boy for the gay lifestyle. And we're going to answer it" (Kaufman 78). this case made people push back against the general public desire for change and acceptance. There was also a push back against the protesters."After seeing Fred Phelps protesting at Matthews funeral and found out that he was coming to Laramie for the trial of Russell Henderson, I decided that someone needed to stand toe-to-toe with this guy and show the difference" (Kaufman 79). As people protested it encouraged others to take a stand and fight for a change. No matter what way people were effected, everyone was impacted by this murder.

This crime not only made people think about gay rights but also about the death penalty. This created controversy for the people of Laramie. "How can I protest, if the Shepard's want McKinney dead? I just cant interfere in that. But on a personal level, I knew Aaron in grade school. We never called him Aaron, he was called A.J" (Kaufman 88). People didn't just have to think about f the crime was worth death but also if they would give the death penalty to an old childhood friend. Everyone of Laramie who grow up with Aaron was personally involved the case. "Parts of me wants McKinney to get it. But I'm not very proud of that. I was on and off, off and on. I cant say what I would do... I'm too personally involved"(Kaufman 88). Everyon0e had this connection to Aaron and Russell so no matter their view on the death penalty it was hard to decide what is right and wrong. Even if people didn't want the death penalty for Aaron, no one wanted him free. "I don't know about the death penalty. But I don't ever want to see them walk out of Rawlins Penitentiary. I'll pay my nickel, or whatever, my little percentage of tax, nickel a day to make sure that his ass stays in there and never sees society again and definitely never comes into my bar again"(Kaufman 88). Weather or not people wanted to see Aaron dead or not, no one wanted to see him free. This case caused so much controversy within the people of Laramie.

Nikki Brown, Gabe Adams analysis blog

"if you don't take care of your land, then you ruin it and lose your living" (Engen 4)

"the difference is that in Wyoming there are fewer places to blend in if you're anything other than prairie stock" (Kaufman 47)

"how can i protest, if the shepherds wants McKinney dead? I just can't interfere with that. But on a personal level, I new Aaron in grade school " (Ula 89)

Laramie Project act 2

The second act of The Laramie Project focus's on the mentality towards gay people in Laramie. Sergeant Hing describes his opinion on the view of gay people in Laramie."We have one of the most vocal populations of gay people in the state....And it's pretty much: Live and let live" (Moises Kaufman 45). It is a sad fact that people use this as a good mentality to have. It shouldn't just be live and let live, the community should be accepting of everyone no matter sexual orienting. Jeffrey Lockwood describes hes wish for the men who did this weren't from Laramie. "We don't grow children like that here. well, its pretty clear that we do grow children like that here..."(Kaufman 46). People are oblivious to the fact that Aaron and Russell grow up in Laramie and therefor where influenced by the communities view on gay people. The governor talks about pushing hate crime legislation. "I would like to urge the people of Wyoming against overreacting in a way that gives one group "special rights over others"" (Kaufman 48). He is not thinking about protecting gay people of Wyoming and more on disregard them. People may say they don't have a problem with people who have a different sexual orientations but it isn't true unless they are actually accepting and don't just believe people should live and let live.

 Media defined this case. Aaron's dad describes the effects he thinks the media had on his sons conviction. "Had this been a heterosexual these two boys decided to take out and rob, this never would have made the national news. Now my son is guilty before he's even had a trial"(Kaufman 49). The media made up its mind about the reasoning for the murder before the investigation was even finished and no one questioned it. Reporters came from all over the country to cover this case. "It was huge. Yeah. It was herds and -and were talking hundreds of reporters which makes a huge dent in this tows population. There's reporters everywhere, news trucks everywhere on campus, everywhere in the town. And were not used to that type of attention to begin with, were not used to that type of exposure" (Kaufman 47).  So many people came to Laramie and broad casted not only the case but everyone in the town. The medias coverage of the crime made the nation think but more specifically the people of Laramie think. "Look, I do think that, um, the media actually made people accountable. Because they made people think. Because people were sitting in their homes, like watching TV and listening to CNN and watching Dan Rather and going, "Jesus Christ, well that's not how it is here." Well how is it here?"(Kaufman 49). The exposure gay rights got from this horrible murder made everyone consider how accepting they and their community was. It brought out change and recognition to the gay community.

Laramie Project- defined and ignorance

Events can permanently define a place or person. The Laramie Project is a book containing interview from the people of Laramie about the Matthew Shepard case. "Laramie is a town defined by an accident, a crime." (Kaufman, 9) When people think of Laramie Wyoming, they think of Mathew. The Town of Laramie will forever be seen as the place this horrific hate crime took place. The town will never be seem for what it used to be or what it is not. "Now, when the incident happened with that boy, a lot of press people came here. And one time some of them fallowed me out to the crime scene. And uh, well, it was a beautiful day, absolutely gorgeous day, real clear and crisp and the sky was that blue that-it's just gorgeous. And the mountains in the background and a little snow on em'"(8) None that came to Laramie noticed the beauty of it, all they saw was the crime scene. The incident marked the town and that is all anyone can think of now when they heard Laramie. People bi pass everything else that Laramie is and only focus on the bad things, the things associated with the hate crime. "And they were just-nothing but the story. I didn't feel judged, I felt that they were stupid. they're, they're missing the point- they're just missing the whole point." (9) So many people came to Laramie after hearing about Mathew but none of them noticed anything other than the case. Even today, 16 years after his death, Laramie is defined as the place Matthew Shepard was beaten and killed.

Ignorance is a lack of knowledge and understanding. Many people believe that along with ignorance,
one finds bliss. This is the case for the people of Laramie in 1998 surrounding Mathew Shepard's murder. "they were happy. They were glad the sun was shining" (Kaufman 6).  Rebecca Hilliker describes the people of Laramie as being happy due to the simplest thing, they don't get dragged down by the whats going on elsewhere in the world. When you grow up in a small town around the same people your whole life, everyone tends to have the same opinions and attitudes towards stuff. "I would have told you Laramie is a beautiful town, secluded enough that you can have your own identity" (9) This isn't true, the seclusion makes it so everyone is influenced by the same thing and isn't exposed to different cultures and opinions. Laramie is a unique place. "I
thought it was strange that the sign said: WYOMING-LIKE NO PLACE ON EARTH instead of WYOMING-LIKE NO PLACE ELSE ON EARTH"(13) This shows how Laramie is secluded from the rest of the world, it cannot even be compared to it. Without different influences, people live life with an ignorance. This ignorance might be blissful but one misses out on so much knowledge and  grasp on the world.