Wyo. Changes Sluggishly Since Shepard Murder

10 years after gay student's murder, authors revisit Laramie

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 17, 2008 11:19 AM CDT

(Newser) – The creators of The Laramie Project have returned to Wyoming to explore the legacy of Matthew Shepard’s murder 10 years later, the New York Times reports. In revisiting the people whose words make up the script, the theater company found that there has been progress —albeit slow.

"Sometimes you got to just, as a community, get slugged before you wake up and grow up," said a policewoman. But company members found few monuments to the gay college student in the town or in its laws, and gay students noted that it can still be difficult to be out. "You get exhausted" by the pain, said a local professor.

[Images (4)]

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A scene from a school theater production of The Laramie Project. ((c) Arbron)

Matthew Shepard Act: Anderson Edition December 2007 ((c) )

Jim Osborn is a gay activist in Laramie, Wyoming, and was friends with Matthew Shepard. (KRT Photos)

Although a new fence has been built where openly gay student Matthew Shepard was killed in Laramie, Wyoming, a makeshift memorial is still nearby. (KRT Photos)

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Online chatting is a big deal for gay guys in Wyoming — that’s pretty much the only place to be safe. - Christopher, a gay undergraduate at the University of Wyoming

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Wyo. Changes Sluggishly Since Shepard Murder