The Laramie Project is a play created by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project. In 1998, a 21-year-old boy named Matthew Sheppard was beaten and left to die in a field in the town of Laramie, Wyoming. The two suspects were accused of murdering Matthew out of hate, because Matthew was outwardly homosexual. This play is a compilation of the over 200 interviews that the Tectonic Theater Project team conducted in the town of Laramie. The play discusses the hatred of the town and touches upon the feelings and reactions of the citizens of Laramie.
Over the course of time, the Laramie Project has raised questions and concerns about hatred and hate crimes, especially towards homosexuals. Acceptance of homosexuality is still a widespread concern and an argument that ceases to end. Whether it is moral or religious reasons, or just plain hate, people have reasons that they hold onto to oppose homosexuality.
Showing the Laramie Project on a Catholic campus raises a few alarms. The Catholic Church is not a supporter of homosexuality. There is no hatred involved, however, Catholics believe that God intended love to be between a man and a woman, and nothing else. Catholics have a strong belief against homosexuality, so one may wonder whether or not this play should have been shown on a Catholic campus.
Whether we live on a Catholic campus or not, I believe showing this play is completely appropriate. Hatred such as the hatred shown towards Matthew is never justifiable. Despite any religious beliefs one may have, one should never think that hating someone to this extent is right just because their actions and their beliefs may differ from the ones that one was taught. No one deserves to be hated for what they believe, and no one deserves to be hurt like Matthew was. Showing this play brings up a problem that people should be aware of. Being a Catholic school has nothing to do with it, because this issue of hatred runs so deep in our society that everyone, despite beliefs, should be aware. Hate crimes are alarmingly high among all age groups. I sometimes think that hate can be even more powerful among young people, so addressing the issue in a college is appropriate. I think we need to know what awful actions that hate can lead to and how we, as a generation, need to stop it.’
Religious beliefs should not influence what kinds of issues we address as a college. No matter what beliefs anyone holds here, hatred is not okay. No one deserves to be treated like Matthew was treated, and no one deserves to be killed because of the way that they live. As a community, we should realize that hatred like this needs to be put to an end in order to stop unnecessary suffering and allow everyone to live a life of acceptance.
