The Larime Project

            "The Laramie Project" by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tetonic Theater Project is play based on the catastrophic murder of Matthew Shepard. As a innocent, naive homosexual who lived in Laramie, Wyoming. He was viciously attacked by two locals Russell Henderson and Aaron McKinney. The play gave a chance for people of Laramie to voice there opinion, and explores diverse views as well as different emotion towards the murder . The two interviews that stood out the most was by the Baptist minster and Doc O'Connor.

            Doc O'Connor was a limousine driver and local entrepreneur. He was Shepard's driver to the bar the night Shepard was beaten. He passively disagreed with the beating,  he claimed that Shepard had straight forward attitude that he liked that although he was very flamboyant.  Doc O'Connor says "The are more gay people in Wyoming than meets the eye...don't fuck with a Wyoming queer...'cause I know a lot of gay people in Wyoming"( Kaufman,21). Though ruff around the edges with the choice of words he used, Conner respect Shepards life style. The interview showed that Connor has an innate persona because he was not closed-minded . He had no ignorance while driving Shepard to the bar and treated him normal he even goes on to say "I don't think Wyoming people give a damn one way or another if your gay or straight..doesn't matter"(Kaufman,21).
          On the other hand, the Baptist Minister, had a very different biblical view in mind on Shepard's homosexuality. He strongly disagrees with that lifestyle, he felt that the beating was absolutely wrong, but the minister believes that Shepard should have thought about his way of life while he was slowly dying on the fence. He stays, “I hope that Matthew Shepard as he was tied to that fence, that he had time to reflect on a moment when someone spoken the word of the lord to him; and before he has slipped into that coma he had a chance to reflect on his lifestyle” (Kaufman, 69). The minister strongly expresses religious views, but he did say  "I don't know that I really want to talk..I don't think.." Kaufman, 67). I think the ministers response was greatly influence by his religion and said what people of Laramie expected him to say as a minister of a church. This interview showed that he is a culturally produced person because his who lives based on his religious beliefs and answers accordingly.