The Laramie Project

In “Live and Let Live” we meet Jedadiah Schultz again. Influenced by his religious upbringing, he doesn’t think that God would approve of homosexuality but doesn’t hate gay people. Conrad Miller, on the other hand, is explicit in his condemnation of homosexuality and has explained to his children why it’s wrong. Murdoch Cooper asserts that there are more gay people in Laramie than you might think, but that they usually know who to talk to and who to avoid. In his eyes, the possibility that Matthew made a pass at Aaron and Russell makes him equally responsible for what happened to him. He finds this comforting. Zackie Salmon, a lesbian, is concerned for her safety and feels that it’s not possible to be openly gay in Laramie. Jonas Slonaker challenges the value of a “live and let live” approach to LGBT people when he says “If I don’t tell you I’m a fag, you won’t beat the crap out of me. I mean, what’s so great about that? That’s a great philosophy?” (60)

Zubaida Ula recounts her experience at a vigil in “It Happened Here.” She tells us that it felt good to be among people who felt the same way she did, although she also felt guilty for feeling so bad about it. She recalls that a man stood up and said “let’s show the world that Laramie is not this kind of town” (60). But as Zubaida points out, “it is that kind of town” (60). She argues that people need to stop trying to distance themselves from this crime and, instead, they need to “own” (61) it.

In “Shannon and Jen” we are introduced to two of Aaron’s friends. Shannon tells Stephen, a member of the theatre company, that it was awful when he found out what happened, and he wondered whether Aaron was on drugs. He refers to Matthew as “a little rich bitch” (61), for which Jen admonishes him. However, he explains that he doesn’t mean Matthew deserved it. He thinks he was just “in the wrong place at the wrong time, said the wrong things” (61). Jen admits that Aaron and Russell have robbed people before, but she doesn’t know if they targeted gay people. When asked if Aaron was homophobic, Jen replies that it probably played a part in what happened. She says that Aaron was fine with gay people “as long as it didn’t come up” (61). Shannon tells Stephen that Aaron definitely knew gay people and had worked with them. When the conversation moves on to Aaron in prison, they make comments that suggest regular drug use. Shannon remarks that they are “product[s] of our society” (62).

“Homecoming” describes how, at the Homecoming Parade, on the Saturday after Matthew was taken to hospital, people gathered and marched behind the parade in support of him. Harry Woods, a local gay man, recalls watching the parade from his apartment—he couldn’t march because his leg was in a cast—and watching as support for Matthew grew, with more and more people joining the march. He was moved to tears and found himself grateful to Matthew, that he had the chance to see something like this. Matt Galloway was also moved by the show of support, particularly the participation of families, calling it “beautiful” (63).

“One of Ours” draws on an interview with Shirley Johnson, the wife of a local patrolman. She resents the coverage of the attack on Matthew, and compares it to the minimal coverage given to the recent death of a Laramie patrolman. She points out that Matthew was not the “saint” he is being portrayed as; she describes him as a “barfly” (64) and accuses him of spreading AIDS. She asks “What’s the difference if you’re gay? A hate crime is a hate crime. If you murder somebody you hate‘em. It has nothing to do with if you’re gay or a prostitute or whatever” (64).