Throughout Act 1 of The Laramie Project while the residents are being interviewed about Matthew Shepard's death, each and every one person has their own opinion on the matter, on the topic of his death, and about being gay in Laramie (so far that I have seen/noticed). For example some of the residents might talk about being open about gay people living in Laramie while at the same time criticizing how or what they think being gay is, or how it should be seen, or how it is viewed by others in Laramie. For example of further analysis Doc O' Conner - a limousine driver states in the play "They're not particularly, ah, the whattayou call them, the queens, the gay people, queens, you know runaround f*****-type people. No, they're the ones that throw bails of hay, jump on horses, brand 'em and kick ass, you see what I'm saying?" (Doc O' Conner / Kaufman, The Laramie Project, pg 21 Act 1). While this does not represent the overall opinion of Laramie, it hows one opinion made by a resident during the time of the interviews about the death of Matthew Shepard. This quote may show how some people might think separately about certain 'types' of gay people, and what some people might expect them to act like, or to be like. This quote could be interpreted on how on one hand not all stereotypes of gay people are true, and at the same time it could be seen as bashing on another certain group of gays - who might participate in more events that are considered 'feminine', or not as masculine - like throwing bails of hay - as the quote suggests. For another example Matt Galloway -the bartender at fireside / student at the university of Wyoming in the play says "They say he's gay, he's gonna come on to people like that" (Matt Galloway / Kaufman, The Laramie Project, pg 31 Act 1).This might suggest the expectations some people might uphold gay people to. How they might believe that gay people act a certain way, or are supposed to act a certain way. The quote may imply how some people's opinions are that they expected Matthew to 'come on' to two guys because he was gay. I have noticed while during the course of the first act of The Laramie Project play there are many viewpoint differing from this, or some which might agree, it might make the reader question what does it mean for something to be considered 'feminine' or 'masculine' - and what does being gay have to do within the boundaries of those standards.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfPJ7exstiU
Matthew Shepard
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