Dedicated to critical cultural production at the intersection of art and activism.

We cover artists from around the globe whose work explores and realizes social change. Our goal is to provide a narrative about these activist efforts while simultaneously participating in them. Maintained by The Groundswell Collective since 2007.

The Laramie Project

James David Morgan wrote this post at 12:00 pm on October 12th, 2007.

The Laramie Project is a play by Moisés Kaufman and members of the Tectonic Theater Project about the reaction to the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyoming. The murder is widely considered to be a hate crime motivated by homophobia. Today marks the nine-year anniversary of Matthew’s death. The attack took place after midnight on the night of October 6, 1998, and he died of his injuries in Poudre Valley Hospital, Fort Collins, Colorado, approximately five days later.

There was also a 2002 film adaptation, directed by Kaufman for HBO, and including such big names as Christina Ricci and Steve Buscemi, which I recently watched. The play and movie have been one of the most widely recognized and successful achievements in art and activism, so while we mourn Matthew’s death, we celebrate the hate crimes legislation and anti-homophobia awareness it catalyzed.

Relatedly, Wikipedia has a list of compositions inspired by or dedicated to Matthew Shepherd:

List of compositions written about or dedicated to Matthew Shepard
Artist Composition title Work Date Notes
Melissa Etheridge Scarecrow Breakdown 1999  
Elton John and Bernie Taupin American Triangle Songs from the West Coast 2001 with backing vocals by Rufus Wainwright
Suzzy Roche and Maggie Roche Sounds Zero Church 2001 based on a poem by Karen Bashkirew
Cyndi Lauper Above the Clouds The Body Acoustic 2005 Judy Shepard was involved in Lauper’s tour behind the album.
The Suicide File Laramie Twilight 2003
Janis Ian Matthew from Billie’s Bones 2004
Daniel Catier What’s it Gonna Be? Revival 2004
Dorianne Laux For Matthew Shepard from Facts about the Moon 2006  
Tori Amos Merman A Piano: The Collection 2006  
Amy Ray Laramie Stag 2001  
Written by Thea Hopkins, performed by Peter, Paul and Mary Jesus Is On The Wire In These Times 2004  
Kristian Hoffman Scarecrow & 2002 Performed as a duet with Wainwright
This Ship Will Sink Dear Matthew      
Best Revenge Sacrifice      
Good Riddance Cheyenne      
Thursday M. Shepard War All the Time 2004  
Protest The Hero Fear and Loathing in Laramie A Calculated Use of Sound    
Hamell on Trial Hail Tough Love 2003  
Trivium And Sadness Will Sear The Crusade 2006 [39]
Non-Prophets That Ain’t Right Hope   [40]
Brian Houston The Ballad of Matthew Shepard Sugar Queen 2006  
Randi Driscoll What Matters   2006 [41]
Andrew Spice Matthew      
Rishma Dunlop Copper Moon Poem   Suzanne Northcott created a painting of the same name based on the poem.
Andrea Gibson Dive Poem    
if thousands   Lullaby   Includes the sound of Shepard’s father reading his son’s eulogy.
Jessica Weiser After the Rain After Silence 2002 The intro to the song uses news reports about the case.    
Ron Sexsmith God Loves Everyone Cobblestone Runway 2002  
Michael Gott Matthew and James Love Can Move The World 2002 “James” refers to hate crime victim James Byrd Jr.  
a balladeer   Poster Child 2008 Dennis Shepard’s speech was the inspiration for this son

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