The Laramie Project: Act 1

I moved here from rural Texas.

If you would have asked me before, I would have told you, Laramie is a beautiful town, secluded enough that you can have your own identity...A town with a strong sense of community — everyone knows everyone...A town with a personality that most larger cities are stripped of.

But there was a somberness to his voice, so I asked what it was all about and he told me he wanted to do a piece about what’s happening in Wyoming.

Leigh told me the company was thinking of going out to Laramie to conduct interviews and that they wanted me to come. But I’m hesitant. I have no real interest in prying into a town’s unraveling.

Leigh told me the company was thinking of going out to Laramie to conduct interviews and that they wanted me to come. But I’m hesitant. I have no real interest in prying into a town’s unraveling.

And all I can remember about the competition is that when we were done, me and my scene partner, we came up to each other and we shook hands and there was a standing ovation.

Oh, and as we passed the University Inn, on the sign where amenities such as heated pool or cable TV are usually touted, it said. HATE IS NOT A LARAMIE VALUE.

Oh, and as we passed the University Inn, on the sign where amenities such as heated pool or cable TV are usually touted, it said. HATE IS NOT A LARAMIE VALUE.

To the point of being somewhat mousy, I’d almost say.

And, so his mousy-ness, his shyness gave way to a person who was excited about this track that he was going to embark on.

And in retrospect and I can only say this in retrospect, of course, I think that’s where he was heading, towards human rights. Which only adds to the irony and tragedy of this.

And in retrospect and I can only say this in retrospect, of course, I think that’s where he was heading, towards human rights. Which only adds to the irony and tragedy of this.

That I would irreparably taint them, that just to be seen with me could be a problem.

Ah, the sociology of religion in the West...

Dominant religious traditions in this town. Baptist, Mormon — they’re everywhere, it’s not just Salt Lake, you know, they’re all over — they’re like jam on toast down here.

Doug Laws, Stake Ecclesiastical Leader for the Mormon Church.

We believe that the prophet of the church has the authority to receive inspiration and revelation from God.

So, the spectrum would be — uh, on the left side of that panel, so far left that I am probably sitting by myself, is me — and the Unitarian Church.

Unitarians are by and large humanists, many of whom are atheists, I mean — we’re, you know, we’re not even sure we’re a religion.

And to my right on the spectrum, to his credit, Father Roger, Catholic Priest, who is well established here, and God bless him — he did not equivocate at all when this happened — he hosted the vigil for Matthew that night.

And to my right on the spectrum, to his credit, Father Roger, Catholic Priest, who is well established here, and God bless him — he did not equivocate at all when this happened — he hosted the vigil for Matthew that night.

God has set boundaries. And one of our responsibilities is to learn. What is it that God wants? So you study scripture, you look to your leaders.

There is a proclamation that came out on the family. A family is defined as one woman and one man and children. That’s a family. That’s about as clear as you can state it...No — no leniency.

And it’s — how am I supposed to go into the whole doctrine of physical modesty and my own spiritual relationship with the Lord, standing there with my pop and chips?

And it’s — how am I supposed to go into the whole doctrine of physical modesty and my own spiritual relationship with the Lord, standing there with my pop and chips?

...he doesn’t condone that kind of violence.

And he was just bombarded with press after this happened and the media has been just terrible about this whole thing.

Um, absolute mannerisms. Manners. Politeness, intelligence.

They walked in, just very stone-faced, you know. Dirty. Grungy. Rude.

They can say it was robbery...I don’t buy it. For even an iota of a second.

I absolutely, positively disbelieve and refute the statement one hundred percent.

Me knowing that — and knowing how gullible Matt could be...he would have walked right into it.

The fact that he was at the bar alone without any friends made him that much more vulnerable.

So the only thing is — and this is what I’m testifying to — ’cause you know, I’m also, basically, the key eyewitness in this case, uh...(Pause.) Basically what I’m testifying is that I saw Matthew leave.

And he wasn’t belligerent.

He didn’t change, his personality didn’t change. He was still the same little meek Russell.

The fence — I’ve been out there four times. I’ve taken visitors. That place has become a pilgrimage site.

It is so stark and so empty and you can’t help but think of Matthew there for eighteen hours in nearly freezing temperatures, with that view up there isolated, and, the “God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” comes to mind.

I feel such a strong kinship with this young man. On the way back, I made sure that no one saw me crying.

And...for a brief moment I wondered if this is how God feels when he looks down at us. How we are all his kids...Our bodies...Our souls...And I felt a great deal of compassion...for both of them...