BAN CENSORSHIP
The Laramie Project is a play based on interviews conducted with hundreds of citizens of Laramie, Wyoming, after a gay college student, Matthew Shepard, was kidnapped, beaten, stoned, and left tied to a fence to die because of his sexual alignment. Matthew Shepard died from his wounds several days later in a hospital. The play has been produced on campuses before (I am working to get an exact number from the company who owns the rights), but, obviously, is graphic in nature. The ultimate message of the show is tolerance and respect. The show does NOT have an overtly 'pro-gay' agenda; its a show about TOLERANCE AND RESPECT.
However, since the lines of the show are based on actual interview transcripts, there is a great deal of cursing. The director voluntarily removed curse words like 'shit', but has been told that if the scripts isn't bleached of every curse word, and every slur for gays (ie 'faggot', 'queer', etc.), the production will be canceled, as will every Alonso High School production for the rest of the year, and the director will lose her job. If there are attempts to contact the media, the director will lose her job. This message was passed directly through representatives of the office of the district superintendent, MaryEllen Elia. The school administration had previously tried to cancel the show completely, but was talked down after protests from parents.
The reasons for this have been frankly acknowledged-the district does not want the negative attention from something as 'controversial' as the idea that tying a fellow human being to a fence and throwing rocks and him isn't something kids should do to each other. Cursing onstage is not a new part of high school theater, and its been done in the district during dozens of shows, including at least two that I personally acted in when I was a student there. This show is being attacked because it concerns homosexuals, period.
I have already recieved a half dozen pictures from friends like mine-mouths covered with duct tape and the word 'laramie'. I have sent emails to kids in three states and overseas, and I hope you will do the same. These pictures are being collected and I intend to use them to create some sort of protest media, most likely a collage. PLEASE send me your contribution to show that you stand against hatred, ignorance, and censorship.
CRITERIA:
1.)your mouth must be covered.
2.) it is up to you whether or not to show your face, but remember that if you hand off your picture to me, I won't be shy about putting the final work of art out in public.
3.)The word 'laramie' must be present on whatever you cover your mouth with.
Duct tape is great, but feel free to get creative.
However, since the lines of the show are based on actual interview transcripts, there is a great deal of cursing. The director voluntarily removed curse words like 'shit', but has been told that if the scripts isn't bleached of every curse word, and every slur for gays (ie 'faggot', 'queer', etc.), the production will be canceled, as will every Alonso High School production for the rest of the year, and the director will lose her job. If there are attempts to contact the media, the director will lose her job. This message was passed directly through representatives of the office of the district superintendent, MaryEllen Elia. The school administration had previously tried to cancel the show completely, but was talked down after protests from parents.
The reasons for this have been frankly acknowledged-the district does not want the negative attention from something as 'controversial' as the idea that tying a fellow human being to a fence and throwing rocks and him isn't something kids should do to each other. Cursing onstage is not a new part of high school theater, and its been done in the district during dozens of shows, including at least two that I personally acted in when I was a student there. This show is being attacked because it concerns homosexuals, period.
I have already recieved a half dozen pictures from friends like mine-mouths covered with duct tape and the word 'laramie'. I have sent emails to kids in three states and overseas, and I hope you will do the same. These pictures are being collected and I intend to use them to create some sort of protest media, most likely a collage. PLEASE send me your contribution to show that you stand against hatred, ignorance, and censorship.
CRITERIA:
1.)your mouth must be covered.
2.) it is up to you whether or not to show your face, but remember that if you hand off your picture to me, I won't be shy about putting the final work of art out in public.
3.)The word 'laramie' must be present on whatever you cover your mouth with.
Duct tape is great, but feel free to get creative.