Hate Crimes Legislation Heads to President Obama's Desk

Today, the United States Senate took an historic step toward ensuring justice for the victims of hate crimes targeted for violence due to their sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. 

By voting overwhelmingly to extend to these often-targeted Americans our nation's decades-old bias crime legislation, senators sent the message that hate crimes will not go unpunished, and local governments and law enforcement agencies will not run out of financial resources to provide justice to these victims and their loved ones.

         At last! 

Dear Greg, Moises, and company,  Thank you so much for facilitating our participation in Laramie 10.  We had a SRO (440) packed house with a strong gay presence and voice.  This, in a conservative state that passed a defense of marriage act and defeated a domestic partner benefit bill.  Most moving for me, personally, was the testimony of the original Laramie Project cast members as they recounted how the original production had changed them and had become an ongoing force that informed the direction and tenor of their lives.  It was amazing to see how quickly and with what power, depth and intensity they were able to drop into the world of the play and take us all back to Laramie and to Matthew.  The cast, crew, and community would like to thank you for your beautiful and courageous play.  And for making us feel less isolated and more at one with a larger, friendlier, and more inclusive community.  You inspire us.  Thanks again,

Daniel L. Rogers

Associate Professor of Theatre

Bismarck State College

We did The Laramie Project while still in manuscript form in 2001, shortly after 9/11...very intense.  Our production was invited to perform at the Region V Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival in Lincoln Nebraska...scary for a two-year program but also very exciting.  On our campus there were no gay people until we did "laramie". lol.  For the first time a dialogue began and it hasn't stopped in the eight years since.  We established a GLBT club and we have consistently done plays with gay characters or themes since.  We have established a GLBT Safe Space project.  We will bring back 9 of the original cast members for the Epilogue...it will be a joy to see them and see where they are "eight years later"..  The fact that they are coming from as far away as Chicago and Denver and that we all are still in contact with each other says something about the power of the original experience.  I am sure we are not alone.