Laramie Project

               One of the most controversial topics in society is Homosexuality which is found at any point of history however it has a bigger impact nowadays creating question about what is right or wrong or how flexible or conservative we are about the gay community. A perfect example is the play base on true events on Laramie, Wyoming “The Laramie Project” by Moises Kaufman where the great tragedy related towards Matthew Shepard's death emphases a taboo of society; either he was a victim of gay racism or of a robbery that end up taking his life. I am going to compare two different characters with a completely opposite point of view about this case in order to have a better understanding whether the problem is on us or on how society is established to cope with these situations.

Romaine Patterson was a close friend of Matt. Her sister owns a store in the town while she works in a coffee shop. Matt used to frequent her and tell her about his life. “He told me that he joined the gay and lesbian group on campus, and he said he was enjoying it” (Kaufman 20) we can see that Matt was happy living in Laramie; he was very open about being gay and would let anyone know about it. After she heard Mathew was found critically hurt and in pointed out that he was assaulted Romaine could believe it. “He would like hand over his wallet in two second- because money meant nothing.” (Kaufman 30) Matt came from a wealthy family and money was not his concert therefore there was something else. Later on it the evidence let to know that Matthew Shepard was a victim of a premeditated violence. “Whenever I think of Mathew, I always think of his incredible beaming smile.” Romaine descried him as a good person who wanted to find his path in life, Matthew a gay person whose concert was to protect people’s rights.

 Batiste mister is a strong religious person “He has very biblical views about homosexuality- he doesn't condone that kind of violence. But he doesn’t condone that of lifestyle. (Kaufman 27). This is how his wife described him as I am pretty sure she shared these thoughts too. It means that he believed whatever is in the bible therefore he strongly disliked gay people. He opposed any thought in pro of homosexuality stating that what is grown in the bible is forbidden and should be corrected. He always finish his speeches with the words “the world is either sufficient or it is not.” (Kaufman 25) it tells us that he is concert with the violence of the case but he strongly avoid  justifying Matthew’s style of life and that it’s wrong to accept it. Batiste minister an interesting character because as a head of the church he is supposed to be wise and should know how to deal with topics that bible is not into but he just close himself to opinions about it showing a ignorance for not being able to be flexible to this situation.

The different point of view on society can be a problem when they completely oppose each other about delicate topics as is Homosexuality. Making a reference to what Aristotle believed about the evil of humans are either innate, we born with it, or culturally produced, we are influenced by the society that surrounds us we can say that this two different point of view relate more to the culturally produced condition but still one in a positive way and the other one in a negative way. Romaine Patterson is a home girl with virtues who believed we should respect gay people since we all are humans but the batiste mister opposed that thought as a result that he was more influenced by church rather than family concert. We could say that Matthew’s sexual preferences are innate because he was born with it even in a society that tries to avoid homosexuality.