The information presented to us by all of those sources we went over in class, whether it was factual or a myth, did lead to large social influences in Laramie and across the country. The death of Matthew Shepard not only improved hate crime laws, but it led to a movement to accept gay people for who they are. “We’re still going to have people who hold with the old ideals, and I was probably one of them fourteen months ago. I’m not going to put up with it…the door goes both ways. I already lost a couple of buddies. I don’t care” (Rob Debree 84). This quote shows that the people who were once not necessarily accepting of gay people have changed their ideals and beliefs after the murder of Matthew Shepard, even if it means losing close friends. “I noticed the most incredible thing…as the parade came down the street…the number of people walking for Matthew Shepard had grown five times. Tears were streaming down my face. Thank god that I could see this in my life time…thank you Matthew Shepard” (Harry Woods 61). Harry Woods is gay and has lived in Laramie for many years, and he has never seen something like this happen. This quote reinforces that death of Matthew Shepard started a movement to support anti-hate towards gay people. This movement led to a beneficial influence on the town of Laramie, unlike the revealing drug world of Wyoming. “Meth is what made the world go around in Laramie” (NPR interview). Meth was a large part of the community in Laramie, where it was made and distributed, and one of the causes of Shepard’s death. Laramie is seen as one of the drug capitals of the country by the locals and the media.
The Laramie Project was not created or arranged to show that the murder of Matthew Shepard was a hate crime, but to show the raw perspectives of many different people of Laramie towards the murder or how Shepard was related to them. Moisés Kaufman does a powerful job at arranging the non-fictional interviews in a creative way that allows one to form their own belief about the subject. During the moment Matthew, different views and characteristics are said about Shepard. Kaufman put this moment in the beginning of the book because it lays out the background of Matthew Shepard that can be used for the rest of the book. Different people portray Matthew Shepard in several ways in this moment. Romaine Patterson, one of the interviewers, said, “And whenever I think of Matthew, I always think of his incredible beaming smile.” This portrays Shepard as a loving and inviting to everyone. Shepard is also seen to be strong in his beliefs, despite that he is in a place that does not except change well. Jon Peacock, Shepard’s academic advisor, remembers Shepard saying, “…there are opportunities here. There are things I can do in this world. I can be Important.” This shows that Shepard was determined and not afraid to be who he is, even in an isolated place like Laramie. The arrangement of the interviews gives the play the creativity aspect, and allows the reader to make their own conclusions.
