Live and Let Live

The residents of Laramie, Wyoming insist on living by their motto of "Live and Let Live". This motto is based off of the homosexual people who live amongst the strictly religious and straight population of Wyoming. It means that, "as long as they don't bother us, then we won't bother them"(The Laramie Project film). Despite the fact that all of the straight people of Laramie continuously say they accept homosexuals just as long as they aren't bothered is viewed entirely different from the homosexuals themselves. A very large population of gay and lesbian people hide their sexual orientation from their fellow town residents because they don't feel safe. "You and the straight people of Laramie and Wyoming are guilty of the beating of Matthew Shepard just as the Germans who looked the other way are guilty of the death of the Jews, Gypsies, and the homosexuals. You have taught your straight children to hate their gay and lesbian brothers and sisters. Unless you acknowledge that Matt Shepard's beating is not just a random occurrence, not just the work of a couple of random crazies, you have Matthew's blood on your hands" (Kaufman 56).

After Matthew Shepard's murder, many people all over the United States began to openly express their views on the matter. People began to protest while others held vigils and gay marches in honor of Shepard. In 2009, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr., Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009 was passed. "It provides funding and technical assistance to state, local, and tribal jurisdictions to help them to more effectively investigate and prosecute hate crimes" (Civil Rights Division: The United States Department of Justice).