85 pages • 2 hours read
Moises KaufmanThe Laramie Project
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2001A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
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Act II, Moments 15-17Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Act II, Moments 15-17 Summary
In “Two Queers and a Catholic Priest,” two members of the theatre company, Leigh Fondakowski and Greg Pierotti, met with Father Roger Schmit towards the end of their second trip. They are both exhausted and are not looking forward to the meeting. Father Schmit tells them that no one “has done more for this community than Matthew Shepard” (65). When Matthew was attacked, the priest admits he was scared, but he also knew he had to do what was right, and so he held a vigil for Matthew. He exhorts the company to “say it correct” (65) and not “make matters worse” (65). He acknowledges that while what was done to Matthew was undoubtedly violent, there are other kinds of violence too, and that homophobic slurs are the “seed of violence” (65). He tells Leigh and Greg that he would “resent it immensely” (65) if they used this project to incite violence of any kind. Leigh thanks him for his words, and he repeats his request: “do your best to say it correct” (66).
“Christmas” draws on an interview with Andrew Gomez, who spent time in jail with Aaron McKinney. He recalls asking Aaron, “‘Why did you KILL a faggot if you’re gonna be destined to BE a faggot later?’” (66). Aaron’s response was that Matthew made a pass at him. Andrew remarks that if he were in Aaron’s position, he’d be scared to go to jail.
In “Lifestyle 2,” company member Amanda interviews the Baptist Minister. The minister is reluctant to talk about what happened as he is tangentially involved, through his congregation. He has been trying to convert Aaron and Russell for a long time and, while he thinks they deserve the death penalty, he will continue to work for their spiritual salvation. As for Matthew, while his “lifestyle” (68) is legal, he hopes that at some point before he lost consciousness he had time to reflect on God and his lifestyle. The stage notes state that rain begins to fall.
Act II, Moments 15-17 Analysis
This sequence of moments reflects on different types of violence. The Catholic Priest, Father Schmit points to the fact that violence can be discursive, as well as physical. The company members interviewing him, Leigh and Greg—the two “queers” of the moment’s title—are grateful for this acknowledgement. The revelation that they are queer further explains why this process has been so draining for them. An example of the kind of violence Father Schmit is talking about is shown in the next moment, by Andrew Gomez. His liberal use of the “faggot” accompanies his consideration of the fate that awaits Aaron once he is sentenced for his crime. The fact that Andrew perceives the sexual violence that Aaron might experience in prison to be the same as homosexual sex between two consenting adults suggests a terrible misunderstanding of what homosexuality is. Concluding this short section is Amanda Gronich’s interview with the Baptist Minister, whose complete lack of compassion for what happened to Matthew is startling. Significantly, the Minister draws a distinction between what is legal and what is right that opens the disturbing possibility of operating beyond the law. While Amanda offers no rebuttal to the minister’s words, the stage notes describe rain falling on the stage, which is itself a poignant response.
