Laramie Project Ten Years Later - Case Study Example

First and and Number Due (DD/MM/YY) Laramie Project Ten Years Later There is no slightest doubt that the crime committed against Matthew Shepard is a hate crime since he had declared that he was gay. The testimonies and evidence that is presented in Laramie project give utmost conviction that Matt was murdered due to the fact that he was gay. The court case against the perpetrators Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney indicate that they didn’t know Matt before the incidence happened that night. It now raises the question, how could they have known that Matt was gay? The only explanation that can explain the evidence is that Matt’s sexuality was revealing hence unacceptable to these two perpetrators. The two perpetrators reacted towards Matt’s performance since it was consistent with their own learned gender performance. Laramie project clearly indicates that Matthew’s gender performance as homosexual. Doc O’Connor, the taxi driver, indicated that Matt was certain about his sexuality, and stated “I want you to know, I am gay, and we are going to a gay bar” (Kaufman 19). The language Matt used was part of his gender performance, and his main aim was to make others perceive him as gay. Matt was not ashamed of being a homosexual, and made sure that people understood that fact. Romaine Patterson, Matthew’s friend, told the theater project that Matthew joined the lesbian and gay club on campus a week before he was murdered (Kaufman 20). This is a clear indication that Matt was very proud to be part of gay society. Since he was very candid about his sexuality, it makes much sense that he was open to Henderson and McKinney about this fact. Matt Galloway, the bartender at Fireside bar, claims attest to this fact by indicating that it might be possible that it is Matt who approached the two perpetrators since he was open to the fact that he was gay. Matt also performed his gender like a stereotypical gay man. Matt Galloway describes Matt as “dresses nice, clean cut.” Romaine Patterson also describes him as a person who didn’t care about money he cared more about his shoes as well as possessing nice things (Kaufman 29-30). Therefore, it can be illustrated that Matt was appeared fancy, which is the way a modern society perceives gay people. There is a great probability that the two perpetrators were pissed off by the manner in which Matt was dressed; he was fancy and flamboyant. The community is against homosexuality in all angles. Doc describes him as a slight boy-about 5’2” and weigh 97 pounds (Kaufman 18). If only Matt were as strong as 6’3” and masculine enough, he might have defended himself, and the tragedy might not have occurred. Catherine Connolly, a professor at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, considered herself as “first ‘out’ lesbian or gay faculty member on campus.” Catherine indicates that she is very afraid that what happened to Matt can also happen to them, and this illustrates that there is a lot of hatred towards gay people in Laramie. Matt is described as a sweet guy that went along with everybody, and it is clear he was attacked due to the fact that he was gay. The two perpetrators who were also young like Matt found him an easy target, despising the fact that it was a case of robbery. In The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later McKinney indicates that he was looking for someone to rob that night (Kaufman et al. 53). Therefore he saw Matt as an easy target because of his attire and sexuality, as well as his gentleness. This illustrates that the community didn’t respect the gay rights, even thugs’ despised gays and could target a person because he was gay. Laramie was from a small town with an estimated population of 27000 people, and the community barely accepted homosexuality and this is a reason why McKinney had developed a homophobic attitude. Jedadiah Schultz, a student at the University of Wyoming, used to love Laramie and he thought after Matt’s death everyone would look Laramie in a different way. According to him Laramie was a place where one could hide his identity, a place where everyone knew everyone. The death of Matt is what was defining Laramie, “we have become Waco.” The fact that the rights of homosexuals were not condoned in the town, this culminated in a crime of hate that would define the town. It can be said that after the crime Laramie progressed and learned its mistakes. One of the key element of gender performance is the audience (Foss et al. 172). The function of the audience is to review the gender performance of a person, and this is done by rejecting, tolerating or supporting the performance. Laramie reviewed gender performance of gay people and rejected it prior to the death of Matt, and the town could not tolerate an iota of gay’s right. Russell was McKinney’s audience though he didn’t agree with his gender performance he eventually agreed to tolerate it (Kaufman et al. 41-42). Most people in Laramie like Henderson performed their gender performance as followers, they didn’t know why homosexuals should be hated or rejected. Father Roger Schmitt was a person who was very vocal in criticizing homosexual before Matt’s murder. He referred to them as ‘fag’ showing how he despised this kind of people. He is an epitome of how the town has progressed since the incidence, he says that one should focus on what is right and what is correct, and father Roger is also apologetic on the incidence saying he is sorry if he fueled the occurrence of the incidence. Father Roger was the first to set up a vigil when Matt was dying in the hospital, and he is greatly disappointed when other ministers are not involved. According to Fr,. Roger other ministers were concentrating too much on what is wrong. Reverend Fred Phelps, a minister in Laramie, was extremely anti-gay, and he says that Matt should have reflected on his lifestyle before he went into a coma on that fateful day. Though there are signs of progress in the town, such people like reverend Fred can’t change their position and would continue hating and violating the rights of gay people. Some people in Laramie hate gays too much that they were disgusted with the manner in which Doc cried while giving the statement of Matt’s death. Some sent emails asking whether he cries like that when all his patients succumb to death or it only when a gay dies. Change is not an easy thing, and people of Laramie found it difficult to accept that gays had right. The people agreed with the justice that was served to the two perpetrators but were not ready to accept that homosexuals had rights. Laramie has progressed but slowly, and the gay right are beginning to be accepted. The first play that was acted “Angels in America” towards the end of the movie indicate that there are an acceptance and respect for gay rights among some people. Harry Woods who lives in the heart of Laramie, confessed he is a homosexual but believes that the change that can be carried out is to bring out some legislative laws that protect the right of homosexual, prejudice or any form of hate. Homecoming parade in honor of Matt Shepard is characterized by additional hundreds of people every year, and this is a confirmation that Laramie has progressed since the murder of Matt. The town is healing and accepting that gay people should have their rights, and they don’t deserve to be treated as if they were not humans. Work cited Foss, Sonja K., Mary E. Domenico, and Karen A. Foss. Gender Stories: Negotiating Identity in a Binary World. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press, Inc., 2013. Print Kaufman, Moisés. The Laramie Project. New York: Vintage Books, 2001. Print. Kaufman, Moisés, Leigh Fondakowski, Greg Pierotti, Andy Paris, and Stephen Belber. The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. New York: Dramatists Play Service Inc., 2012. Print. Read More