The Laramie Project

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. People identifying as a part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer community (LGBTQ+) often experience discrimination in the US due to their gender identity and/or sexual orientation. What are some different forms of discrimination that many LGBTQ+ people have experienced? In which ways have these discriminatory actions resulted in violent hate crimes?

Teaching Suggestion: This question invites students to consider the historical and sociological context of the play: hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community in the US. While hate crimes against individuals who are marginalized for their gender and/or sexual orientation are not a new form of discrimination, the rise of acknowledging and protesting such discriminatory actions marks a distinct sociological change in the US. Socially, the LGBTQ+ community’s visibility in the public sphere has increased since the latter half of the 20th century, largely in part to the HIV-AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and early 1990s. Despite the fact that many Americans are more tolerant of the LGBTQ+ community in the public sphere, hate crimes are still frequent. This question connects with the theme The Violent Effects of Anti-LGBTQ+ Bias and links with the main Activity.

• This article from the Center for American Progress documents discriminatory acts against the LGBTQ+ community and includes survey results and statistics from 2020.
• This article from the Williams Institute discusses the relationship between violent hate crimes and LGBT community members.

2. Consider the religious diversity in the US. What are some of the most practiced religions? Based on your knowledge and/or personal experience, how do these religions view the LGBTQ+ community?

Teaching Suggestion: This question orients students with an important aspect of the play: that the idea of belonging to the LGBTQ+ community is a “sin” is not a monolithic viewpoint of all religions. It may be helpful to review some statistics related to this concept in the play to generate interest and encourage objectivity as discussions evolve. For example, according to the United States Census Bureau, Wyoming is a predominately white state with low religious and ethnic diversity; as a result, Kaufman’s play mainly focuses on the response of Christian communities (specifically Catholic and Protestant) to Matthew’s death. While some Christian leaders consider being gay to be worse than his murder, other churches find that Religion and Tolerance coexist and are more powerful than the perceived “sin” of being gay. Appealing to students’ sense of logic with similar facts, resources, and statistics (such as those listed below) might encourage students to explore and understand perspectives different from their own.  

• This resource from Human Rights Campaign provides a comprehensive overview of different religions’ responses to the LGBTQ+ community.
• These charts from Pew Research Center’s Religious Landscape Study depict the views about being gay among adults in Wyoming, including those based on religious background.

Short Activity

Kaufman’s play is an example of the “Epic Theatre” movement. Working in small groups, research Epic Theatre, select one play, and share your findings with the class in an informal presentation. Be sure to provide an overview of the play and its themes, as well as the background of the playwright. Additionally, include any photos or videos of the production you deem relevant.

Teaching Suggestion: This Short Activity orients students within the literary context of the play, as Kaufman chose to share the content of The Laramie Project in the Epic Theatre format. After students share their respective plays, consider inviting them to discuss the positives and negatives of this type of theatrical presentation.

• This article from BBC highlights important information regarding Epic Theatre and Bertolt Brecht.
• This model by Bertolt Brecht is cited in the introduction of The Laramie Project as an influential piece in the playwriting process.
• This interview from American Theatre explores Kaufman’s background and work in theater.

Differentiation Suggestion: For an exercise that focuses on oral presentation through script delivery, this Short Activity may be amended to add the following question: Working in small groups, select one of the scenes from your chosen play and perform it for the class. Analyze the ways in which Epic Theatre enhances the scene. How would the delivery of the content be different if this scene were not written in the form of Epic Theatre?

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the play.

Consider the media’s role in reporting on sensitive subjects and situations. What responsibilities does the media have in spreading awareness about a sensitive subject while also maintaining the privacy of those involved? Can you think of an instance where the media abused or misused this power and made the situation worse?

Teaching Suggestion: This Personal Connection Prompt invites students to consider the theme The Tension Between Spreading Public Awareness and Maintaining Privacy within their own understanding of the role of media in sharing information about sensitive subjects. Media outlets, particularly paparazzi sources, are often blamed for exploiting their subjects and distorting facts. Kaufman’s play touches on this theme as it explores the tension residents feel in their sudden media popularity. It may be helpful to explore a past example of how the media has reported on a sensitive subject or situation with students prior to the exercise; this could promote discussion and/or help students generate ideas. This Personal Connection Prompt directly segues with the Discussion/Analysis Prompt.