The Laramie Project Page #2

...on the sign where amenities such as

heated pool, cable TV are usually touted...

...it said, "Hate is not a Laramie value."

So how did you wind up here?

Well, when it came time to go to college...

...my parents couldn't really afford

to send me to college.

I knew that I wanted to study theatre...

...and I knew that if I wanted to go

to college, I had to get on a scholarship.

There's this competition

that they have every year.

It's like a Wyoming state

high school competition thing.

I came to the University, to the theatre

department, to look for some good scenes.

I asked the professor, I said,

"You know, I need a killer scene."

And he's like,

"Here. Here you go. This is it."

- What was it?

- That was Angels in America.

I read that and I'm like, this is okay.

I can win Best Scene

if I just do a good enough job.

So I tell my parents, so they can come

see me in the competition.

They brought me in the room

and they sat me down...

...and they said that they wouldn't come

to see me if I did that scene.

- They couldn't.

- Why is that?

You know, because they believe it's wrong,

because homosexuality's wrong.

All I remember from the competition

is just standing ovation.

- Really?

- Just...

We won. We got first place.

One of the best moments of my life.

- Did your parents come?

- Parents weren't there.

So why'd you do it?

Actually, if I'm really honest, I think...

...I just wanted to win, really.

It was just the greatest scene.

I just wanted to win.

Today, for the first time, I met someone

who actually knew Matthew Shepard.

Trish Steger, owner of a shop in town,

referred to him as Matt.

Matt used to come into my shop.

That's how I knew him.

It was the first time I ever heard him

referred to as Matt instead of Matthew.

Well, what was he like?

I don't know.

How does any one person

ever tell about another?

Matt was a blunt little sh*t.

Know what I'm saying?

He was a little guy, 5'2".

Soaking wet, I bet you (7 pounds, tops.

They were saying he weighed 110 pounds.

I don't believe it.

I say, "Are you Matthew Shepard?"

He says, "Yeah, I'm Matthew Shepard,

but don't call me Matthew, or Mr. Shepard.

"Don't call me none of that.

My name is Matt.

"And I want you to know that I am gay,

and we're gonna be going to a gay bar.

"Do you have a problem with that?"

I said, "No. How are you paying?"

The fact of the matter is,

laramie doesn't have any gay bars.

For that matter, neither does Wyoming.

He was hiring me to take him down

to Fort Collins, Colorado...

...which is about an hour away.

He was struggling when he first came here.

Reaching out, trying to fit in.

- I'm sorry I'm late.

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