The Laramie Project is a play by Moises Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project. It was written in reaction to the 1988 murder of 21-year old student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. He was brutally beaten and left to die alone in a field, simply because he was gay. The play looks at the aftermath of the murder on Matthew's friends and family and the rest of the town. Absolutely stunning, harrowing and thought provoking. You need to see it, read it or watch it (a film was made 2002).
In my 7th form year (2005), my drama class performed the Laramie Project. It was an absolutely amazing experience. I learnt a lot from the play. Introspectively it made me think of prejudices and the absolute hate that some people harbor. And not only individuals, but whole communities. Communities who hide behind religion in the sexual orientation debate. That really baffles me. I was brought up Catholic. For a short while I was involved in Evangelical Christian community. But not once did I ever think that those who were gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender were evil, possessed or diseased human beings. I only use that terminology as a lot of the talk surrounding these issues were discussed in terms of evil spirits or mental illness (so was depression which is another, yet just as ridiculous, story). I guess I just don't understand the religious movements that attempt to convert the whole world, that is their mission. Any means necessary. If they don't, it makes them unworthy. Yet the Catholic values I learnt growing up, and keep with me now even though I am no longer a practicing Catholic, were of acceptance, love, peace. It scares me how you can twist messages of humanity, forgiveness and love into discrimination, hate and condemnation. Matthew Shepard was my age. A student. A friend. A son. He was killed because of one characteristic he had that someone didn't agree with. I can't bring myself to believe that an all powerful and ever-loving God would condone violent actions (both words and behaviour) and look graciously on those who hate and hurt people with such a vengeance.
There needs to be a lot more love and peace. A LOT more.
Be happy that you have found God, spirituality and understand your place in the universe.
Let others find their place in peace.
The Matthew Shepard Foundation
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1 comments:
So tragic! So sad! So wrong! Yet so powerful!
The fact that his story is remembered acts as a reminder that that kind of behaviour can't be accepted!
I'll have to look The Laramie Project up!
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