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Act 2: Shannon and Jen
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Laramie Project, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Homophobia, Tolerance, and Acceptance
Violence, Punishment, and Justice
Media and Community
Religion, Morality, and Prejudice
Theater and Representation
Summary
Analysis
The narrator describes how homecoming weekend, which is normally a simple, fun event, was much more somber and contemplative in the wake of Matthew’s murder. University President Philip Dubois describes how students added a tribute to Matthew to the homecoming parade. Harry Woods, a Laramie resident who lived along the parade route, says he was disappointed he couldn’t walk with the people marching for Matthew because he had a cast on his leg. Harry, a gay man, watched the parade from his window and describes how he was very moved by the sight.
The inclusion of a tribute to Matthew in the homecoming parade suggests that LGBT acceptance is beginning to be incorporated into the most mainstream or visible parts of Laramie society after Matthew’s murder. As Harry Woods explain how moved he was by the display, the playwrights show how meaningful the demonstration was for other LGBT people as a show of solidarity and acceptance.
Themes
Matt Galloway, the bartender at Fireside the night of Matthew Shepard’s attack, participated in the parade. He talks about how incredible and powerful it was, describing it as “one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever done in my life.” Harry Woods resumes talking about his experience watching the parade, saying how more and more people joined in the march until there were around five hundred participants. Harry began to cry and mentally thanked God and Matthew that he got to see that moment.
Matt Galloway’s proximity to Matthew in the time close to his death seems to have made Matt feel compelled to publically demonstrate his support for Matthew. As Harry Woods describes how he cried while watching the parade, his invocation of God suggests that religion, rather than being anti-LGBT, could actually be on the side of acceptance.
Themes
