Published October 12, 2007 Artists, Events, Works, Exhibitions
James David Morgan

The Laramie Project

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
ArtistComposition titleWorkDateNotes
Melissa EtheridgeScarecrowBreakdown1999 
Elton John and Bernie TaupinAmerican TriangleSongs from the West Coast2001with backing vocals by Rufus Wainwright
Suzzy Roche and Maggie RocheSoundsZero Church2001based on a poem by Karen Bashkirew
Cyndi LauperAbove the CloudsThe Body Acoustic2005Judy Shepard was involved in Lauper’s tour behind the album.
The Suicide FileLaramieTwilight2003
Janis IanMatthewfrom Billie’s Bones2004
Daniel CatierWhat’s it Gonna Be?Revival2004
Dorianne LauxFor Matthew Shepardfrom Facts about the Moon2006 
Tori AmosMermanA Piano: The Collection2006 
Amy RayLaramieStag2001 
Written by Thea Hopkins, performed by Peter, Paul and MaryJesus Is On The WireIn These Times2004 
Kristian HoffmanScarecrow&2002Performed as a duet with Wainwright
This Ship Will SinkDear Matthew   
Best RevengeSacrifice   
Good RiddanceCheyenne   
ThursdayM. ShepardWar All the Time2004 
Protest The HeroFear and Loathing in LaramieA Calculated Use of Sound  
Hamell on TrialHailTough Love2003 
TriviumAnd Sadness Will SearThe Crusade2006[39]
Non-ProphetsThat Ain’t RightHope [40]
Brian HoustonThe Ballad of Matthew ShepardSugar Queen2006 
Randi DriscollWhat Matters 2006[41]
Andrew SpiceMatthew   
Rishma DunlopCopper MoonPoem Suzanne Northcott created a painting of the same name based on the poem.
Andrea GibsonDivePoem  
if thousands Lullaby Includes the sound of Shepard’s father reading his son’s eulogy.
Jessica WeiserAfter the RainAfter Silence2002The intro to the song uses news reports about the case.  
Ron SexsmithGod Loves EveryoneCobblestone Runway2002 
Michael GottMatthew and JamesLove Can Move The World2002“James” refers to hate crime victim James Byrd Jr. 
a balladeer Poster Child2008Dennis Shepard’s speech was the inspiration for this son
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