The Laramie Project: Act 1

Upon reading the Laramie Project, many views about homosexuality were expressed. Wyoming is a state known for the amount of religious groups present. In specific, there the religious groups are made up of mostly Mormons and Christians. These religions both believe that homosexuality is a sin, so as a result, many people in Laramie are against people being gay. "As far as the gay issue, I don't give a damn one way or the other as long as they don't bother me" (Kaufman 17). I disagree with the way people in the Laramie Project portray gays. Marge Murray said that he didn't give a damn about the gay issue and I disagree with the way he portrayed the gay people that live in Laramie. He called it the gay issue and yet it isn't an issue, it's a preference. Due to the fact that so many people in Laramie don't believe in homosexuality, the people who actually are gay are afraid to live there life there because their afraid they'll be treated poorly. "If that's where you want to live, do it" (Kaufman 22). Jonas Slonaker made a great point in this statement. He talks about all the gay people he would meet from Laramie now living in cities and not in Laramie where they love it because they feel unsafe. The fact that homosexual people can't live where they want to because they feel that their preference towards love will negatively define their social status is disheartening. It is such a disappointment towards mankind that we can't except people just because they are interested in the same sex. If that's what these people prefer than why do people who are straight care so much?

The sign in this image says Laramie welcomes you. But does it really? In the play, most of the residents interviewed talk about how much they love living in Laramie and that their family has been living there for decades upon decades. However, for the people that are gay in Laramie feel uncomfortable with speaking out their sexuality."Louisa Grandma Swain cast the first women's ballot in any free election in the world, and that's why Wyoming is the Equality State" (Kaufman 28). I disagree quite strongly with Wyoming being the equality state since anyone who is homosexual doesn't even feel safe living there with all the religious people thinking their sexuality is a sin. 

Within this video about Matthew Shepard, his mother talks about how he didn't deserve the crime that was inflicted upon him at all. "And he told me that he had joined the gay and lesbian group on campus, and he said he was enjoying it" (Kaufman 20). The fact that Matt was so involved and open about his sexuality living in such a religious place as Laramie was a really bold thing for a young man like him to do. I find it very admirable yet it could be a main reason leading to the cause of his unfortunate hate crime.