Iowa parents protest high school "Laramie Project"

Smoke screen!! They are just upset about the language and violence? Give me a break. Working with teens, I have some insite into their lives. Spoon feed them ,and they will spit it out. Give them a hard-hitting, in-your-face presentation, and you've got their attention. I am very sensitive to inappropriate language, but sometimes, nothing else will do. This is one of those occasions.

To the Gay Mom in Bloomfield Hills, Mi. "Get Saved" I have been pro-active in every obstacle that has presented it to me during my life. Being an educated professional in the Teaching field you can present a topic with out being blatently ignorant.
Perhaps we should teach our children how to use drugs and masturbation through the Play "Hair" and hold a forum afterwards so we could introduce the masturbation techniques of Dr. Ruth.

I have many gay and lesbian friends. In fact my cousin owned a very successful gay bar in Iowa and contributed to the good of charities, suchas; children stricken with aids and aids awareness. And guess what? He is using his money to educate people without profane language.

Go figure!

REIKE PLECAS wrote:

To the Gay Mom in Bloomfield Hills, Mi. "Get Saved" I have been pro-active in every obstacle that has presented it to me during my life. Being an educated professional in the Teaching field you can present a topic with out being blatently ignorant.
Perhaps we should teach our children how to use drugs and masturbation through the Play "Hair" and hold a forum afterwards so we could introduce the masturbation techniques of Dr. Ruth.
I have many gay and lesbian friends. In fact my cousin owned a very successful gay bar in Iowa and contributed to the good of charities, suchas; children stricken with aids and aids awareness. And guess what? He is using his money to educate people without profane language.
Go figure!

What this play is teaching is extreme, and calls for extreme gestures to deliver it's message. The "Message" is so important, that it needs to be delivered some how, to every young person who can see and hear it. Will the language ram home the importance? I don't know. Will it get their attention? My God, I hope so.

Gay Mom wrote:

<quoted text>
What this play is teaching is extreme, and calls for extreme gestures to deliver it's message. The "Message" is so important, that it needs to be delivered some how, to every young person who can see and hear it. Will the language ram home the importance? I don't know. Will it get their attention? My God, I hope so.

Hey Mom!
You gotta see what "Texas Lady" is posting on Vatican condems contraception, and Gays in text books! This broad is a riot!!!

REIKE PLECAS wrote:

To the Gay Mom in Bloomfield Hills, Mi. "Get Saved" I have been pro-active in every obstacle that has presented it to me during my life. Being an educated professional in the Teaching field you can present a topic with out being blatently ignorant.
Perhaps we should teach our children how to use drugs and masturbation through the Play "Hair" and hold a forum afterwards so we could introduce the masturbation techniques of Dr. Ruth.
I have many gay and lesbian friends. In fact my cousin owned a very successful gay bar in Iowa and contributed to the good of charities, suchas; children stricken with aids and aids awareness. And guess what? He is using his money to educate people without profane language.
Go figure!

uh... i justwatched hair the other day with our 5 year old daughter... it doesn't teach anything about drugs or masturbation. does it?(it was an anti vietman war film.)

Deven wrote:

<quoted text>
Hey Mom!
You gotta see what "Texas Lady" is posting on Vatican condems contraception, and Gays in text books! This broad is a riot!!!

I'm on my way>>>>>>

A few years ago, I directed a production of The Laramie Project at my college. I consider that experience one of the highlights of my 30 years of theatre work.

The script is based on interviews conducted by Moises Kaufman and a staff of dramaturgs in Laramie over the course of a year. Yes, the language is at times strong, but it reflects the language used by the individuals involved in the incident. Why should that be sugar-coated?

There is NO graphic violence or sex depicted in the play. The murder of Matthew Shepard is NOT re-enacted; it is described, and the horror of that act should and must be there. The only "sexuality" in the script is the fact that Matthew was gay; NO sex acts are depicted or described.

Sorry, but I don't buy a single one of the "concerns" of those parents who object to the production. They are simply homophobes, pure and simple.

I can't describe the impact this production had on most of our audience members. After one performance, audience members joined members of the GSA in a candlelight vigil for Matthew. It also had a profound impact on the cast and crew. A few months after our production, one of the cast members moved to California, and several of the other actors helped her move. They detoured many miles out of their way to stop in Laramie. They visited many of the places featured in the script, including the fence where Matthew was left to die. It is covered with remembrances. They left a copy of our playbill at the fence. They called me from the fence to tell me what they had done and started crying.

I've directed many productions in my career, but few -- if any -- have evoked the kind of response that The Laramie Project did. This kind of show is the reason I teach and do theatre. I fervently hope that the high school administration sticks by its guns and allows the production to take place.

THEAprof wrote:

A few years ago, I directed a production of The Laramie Project at my college. I consider that experience one of the highlights of my 30 years of theatre work.
The script is based on interviews conducted by Moises Kaufman and a staff of dramaturgs in Laramie over the course of a year. Yes, the language is at times strong, but it reflects the language used by the individuals involved in the incident. Why should that be sugar-coated?
There is NO graphic violence or sex depicted in the play. The murder of Matthew Shepard is NOT re-enacted; it is described, and the horror of that act should and must be there. The only "sexuality" in the script is the fact that Matthew was gay; NO sex acts are depicted or described.
Sorry, but I don't buy a single one of the "concerns" of those parents who object to the production. They are simply homophobes, pure and simple.
I can't describe the impact this production had on most of our audience members. After one performance, audience members joined members of the GSA in a candlelight vigil for Matthew. It also had a profound impact on the cast and crew. A few months after our production, one of the cast members moved to California, and several of the other actors helped her move. They detoured many miles out of their way to stop in Laramie. They visited many of the places featured in the script, including the fence where Matthew was left to die. It is covered with remembrances. They left a copy of our playbill at the fence. They called me from the fence to tell me what they had done and started crying.
I've directed many productions in my career, but few -- if any -- have evoked the kind of response that The Laramie Project did. This kind of show is the reason I teach and do theatre. I fervently hope that the high school administration sticks by its guns and allows the production to take place.

I have not seen the production, but have talked to others who have. They all echo your profound exerperience. It should be mandatory viewing for all our youth, our only hope of sanity in a crazy world.

Gay Mom wrote:

<quoted text>
What this play is teaching is extreme, and calls for extreme gestures to deliver it's message. The "Message" is so important, that it needs to be delivered some how, to every young person who can see and hear it. Will the language ram home the importance? I don't know. Will it get their attention? My God, I hope so.

I hope that if the play is produced that the school district holds an open forum to really discuss the educational factor after each performance.

My hope is that the "educated professionals" host an open forum after each performance to discuss the educational value and lesson learned from the play and how any proactive actions can be taken to lessen violence on "all" cultures.

Gay Mom wrote:

<quoted text>I have not seen the production, but have talked to others who have. They all echo your profound exerperience. It should be mandatory viewing for all our youth, our only hope of sanity in a crazy world.

We are definately not homophobes! In fact just the opposite. We are homofriends! The teacher who chose this production has rallied the children against their teachers, peers and now parents. She has called all students to come out and "protect her" from the mean parents so that she doesn't get beat up at the board meeting.
Please if your and educational instructor deal with the heat in the kitchen or subject yourself to severe budget cuts that face you and your lacking attended productions for the last four years! This play is her last stitch effort to gain attendance to more than likely attempt to save her job.
However hats off to you if you produced the production with little violent nature. I hold my teaching degree in Theatrical Emphasis and am a Philanthropist to the Community Theatre. We need more professionals like you!

It's a shame there isn't a movie about this production. It would reach a lot more people, not only the kids, but adults as well.

REIKE PLECAS wrote:

<quoted text>
I hope that if the play is produced that the school district holds an open forum to really discuss the educational factor after each performance.

That would be an excellent idea.

Actually, HBO produced a film adaptation of The Laramie Project. The film occasionally shows up in HBO's schedule and is available on DVD.

Lola wrote:

It's a shame there isn't a movie about this production. It would reach a lot more people, not only the kids, but adults as well.

I must confess that I am unfamiliar with the specific instructor in question, but I find it unlikely that any high school teacher would attempt to "save" her job by producing a controversial play. Most high school drama teachers I know are so terrified of offending even one parent that they only direct "safe" scripts -- which eliminates almost every play of genuine merit!

I deserve no credit for directing the play with "little violent nature." As I stated earlier, there is NO violence in the script as written! Obviously, many people who are protesting the play have neither seen nor read it -- typical!

REIKE PLECAS wrote:

<quoted text>
We are definately not homophobes! In fact just the opposite. We are homofriends! The teacher who chose this production has rallied the children against their teachers, peers and now parents. She has called all students to come out and "protect her" from the mean parents so that she doesn't get beat up at the board meeting.
Please if your and educational instructor deal with the heat in the kitchen or subject yourself to severe budget cuts that face you and your lacking attended productions for the last four years! This play is her last stitch effort to gain attendance to more than likely attempt to save her job.
However hats off to you if you produced the production with little violent nature. I hold my teaching degree in Theatrical Emphasis and am a Philanthropist to the Community Theatre. We need more professionals like you!

I just have to note to THEAprof--I am protesting the performance of this play in my children's high school and have actually read it several times. It is a powerful, moving script. Regrettably, it does not address the likely main factors that incited this violent crime--alcohol and methamphetamine, two big issues among Iowa teens. I don't think anyone can really argue that a community of parents and taxpayers no longer can influence or opine about what is taught to their own children within their own school district with materials paid by their own money. That's not very tolerant.

WDM Mom wrote:

I just have to note to THEAprof--I am protesting the performance of this play in my children's high school and have actually read it several times. It is a powerful, moving script. Regrettably, it does not address the likely main factors that incited this violent crime--alcohol and methamphetamine, two big issues among Iowa teens. I don't think anyone can really argue that a community of parents and taxpayers no longer can influence or opine about what is taught to their own children within their own school district with materials paid by their own money. That's not very tolerant.

Tolerant of what? Ignorance? The problem is that so many parents will oppose what is on the curriculum based on religion,,,, be it sex education, homosexuality and tolerance, diversity in religion... what have you. And they either demand that the subject they don't like be dropped, or altered to their liking..

But school is for learning about life, and the job of the school is to teach what society, by consensus of the professionals of all fields, deem true...

If you felt this was a powerful and moving script, I am curious as to why you would protest it?

The main factor that incited this crime was homophobia.. and teens of every state should be made aware of it, and how evil it is....(even if some parents don't like it...)

Rationalize your bigotry all you want. It still smells like homophobia to me. If you truly believed The Laramie Project to be a "powerful, moving script," then you would believe young people could learn from it. I KNOW the impact it can have because I've seen it first hand; what a shame you wish to deny this experience to the students in your area.

I'm sure there are some parents and taxpayers who want the play to be produced. So which group outside the academic environment gets to decides? We've all seen what happens when unqualified people get to dictate school policy; the recent debacle regarding science education in Kansas comes to mind.

I'm so grateful that I don't live in such a narrow-minded town and don't have to deal with meddling parents!

WDM Mom wrote:

I just have to note to THEAprof--I am protesting the performance of this play in my children's high school and have actually read it several times. It is a powerful, moving script. Regrettably, it does not address the likely main factors that incited this violent crime--alcohol and methamphetamine, two big issues among Iowa teens. I don't think anyone can really argue that a community of parents and taxpayers no longer can influence or opine about what is taught to their own children within their own school district with materials paid by their own money. That's not very tolerant.

THEAprof wrote:

Rationalize your bigotry all you want. It still smells like homophobia to me. If you truly believed The Laramie Project to be a "powerful, moving script," then you would believe young people could learn from it. I KNOW the impact it can have because I've seen it first hand; what a shame you wish to deny this experience to the students in your area.
I'm sure there are some parents and taxpayers who want the play to be produced. So which group outside the academic environment gets to decides? We've all seen what happens when unqualified people get to dictate school policy; the recent debacle regarding science education in Kansas comes to mind.
I'm so grateful that I don't live in such a narrow-minded town and don't have to deal with meddling parents!
<quoted text>

TheProf
I am truely glad that we can agree to disagree. However please dont think of our community as narrow minded or as bigots. In a mirror the image is one sided! Have you ever visited, been educated, taught in Iowa. If the answer is no, then your comment is viewed as being a bigot. It may be said that yes the play may be a good educating technique, however if the teacher if faced with budget cuts and rallies children against the community, parents and peers how is the opposing figure to look at this incident.

The fact remains: bad things happen to bad people! It is a shame that Mr. Sheperd lost his life not only to: drugs, disease and dispare. What we need to lift up is the positive impact his life could have if we use it as a poster against drug and alcohol use, or safe sex. I hope that we as educators and friends can gage war on all crimes! Peace my friend, and the next time you visit Iowa look me up!

So bad things only happen to bad people? What kind of nonsense is that?? By your reasoning, all the folks who died on 9/11 were bad people.

And Matthew did NOT lose his live to "drugs, disease, and despair"; he was brutally murdered by two homophobic jerks. The Laramie Project is a moving, powerful examination of how pervasive homophobia is in our culture and how Matthew's murder forced some people to re-evaluate their attitudes.

I fail to see how the instructor is "rallying" the students against the community; it sounds to me like she is getting them to fight censorship. Good for her!

Oh, and I've visited Iowa once or twice. Based on what I'm reading about the attitudes of the people who live there, it is doubtful I will ever go back!

REIKE PLECAS wrote:

<quoted text>
TheProf
I am truely glad that we can agree to disagree. However please dont think of our community as narrow minded or as bigots. In a mirror the image is one sided! Have you ever visited, been educated, taught in Iowa. If the answer is no, then your comment is viewed as being a bigot. It may be said that yes the play may be a good educating technique, however if the teacher if faced with budget cuts and rallies children against the community, parents and peers how is the opposing figure to look at this incident.
The fact remains: bad things happen to bad people! It is a shame that Mr. Sheperd lost his life not only to: drugs, disease and dispare. What we need to lift up is the positive impact his life could have if we use it as a poster against drug and alcohol use, or safe sex. I hope that we as educators and friends can gage war on all crimes! Peace my friend, and the next time you visit Iowa look me up!