The Laramie Project Page #3

- My sister Romaine.

She was a close friend of Matthew's.

Matthew really wanted

to get into political affairs.

That was all his big interest was,

watching CNN and MSNBC.

Those were the only TV stations

I ever saw his TV tuned in to.

So why did he move to laramie?

He told me he was thinking about

going back to school.

So I told him, "Go to the University

of Wyoming, go to laramie.

"You can really find a home there."

I was Matthew's academic advisor,

so I Knew him in a very specific context.

But I can tell you that Matthew

was very shy when he first came in...

...to the point of being somewhat mousy,

I'd almost say.

But soon, his shyness began to give way

to this person...

...that was excited about this track

that he was going to embark on.

Whenever I think of Matthew,

I think of his...

...incredible beaming smile.

He'd walk into a room and just be, like...

He'd smile at everyone.

He made you feel great.

He was just starting to say:

"There are opportunities here.

There are things I can do in this world.

"I can be important."

I heard from Matt

about 48 hours before the attack.

He told me he'd just joined

the gay and lesbian group on campus...

...and he was really enjoying it,

getting ready for Pride Week.

He was totally stoked about school.

He was really happy being there.

I can only say this in retrospect, of course.

I think that's where he was headed,

towards human rights.

Let me tell you something.

There's more gay people in Wyoming

than meets the eye.

- You think?

- I know for a fact.

I mean, they're not particularly...

What do you call the queens,

the gay people, queens?

You know,

the run-around, f*ggot-type people.

They're more like the ones who'II...

...throw a bale of hay, jump on a horse,

brand them and kick ass.

Know what I'm saying? As I always say...

...you don't f*** with a Wyoming queer

'cause they'll f***ing kick you in your ass.

- But that's not the point.

- What is the point?

People of Wyoming do not give a damn

one way or the other if you're gay...

...if you're straight, bisexual,

trisexual, it doesn't matter.

- Really?

- That's what I just said. It doesn't matter.

I was the first out lesbian

or gay faculty member...

...and that's in 1((2.

That's not that long ago.

They asked me at the interview

what my husband did.

So I came out then.

When I first moved out here,

I knew it was gonna be hard as a gay man.

There would be times

when I would go to Denver...

...and I would go to the gay bars there, and

people would ask me where I was from...

...and I would say, "laramie, Wyoming."

And I met so many men down there

from Wyoming.

So many gay men who grew up here

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