Matthew Shepard
For decades, LGBT+ people were not a protected class under hate crime legislation. That was until President Obama passed the Matthew Shepard Act, named after a gay university student that was tragically beaten and died in Laramie, Wyoming in 1998.
These stories are important to tell. And no matter whose name it is that is immortalized in an act, LGBT+ people face difficulties and adversity every day. Brandon Teena. Leela Alcorn. Matthew Shepard.
Whoever it is, these issues reverberate in their respective families, towns, and countries.
I have the opportunity to stage manage a play called the Laramie Project, a play written about the effects of Matthew Shepard’s death on his community. I’m inviting you all to come to El Dorado Highschool (Placentia, CA) Sept. 28-30 at 7pm. Tickets are ten dollars, and HALF of all ticket sales will be donated to the Matthew Shepard Foundation. I’ll also be there if you wanna say hi.
I think it’s important that these issues are talked about. And I think this play is really special. It’s an important reminder of the world we live in, and it’s a powerful one.
If you can’t go but still want to help, you can donate to The Matthew Shepard Foundation at https://www.matthewshepard.org/