by Michael
Coffman
(Posted 2-21-03)
The University of Central Oklahoma had its opening
night of The Laramie Project on February 20,
2003. In keeping with my experience with the UCO
Theatre Department, they offered more than a show.
Beyond the spectacular beauty of Mitchell Hall, and
the phenomenal talent of the production cast and
crew, UCO tries to show the community any injustice
that might occur within. In this case, the university
found an exquisite way of having our community
visualize the horror of losing a member due to some
treacherous act of hate.
The production
itself was well done. It is obvious that the actors
all had a passion for their work. What they may not
have realized was that they were telling the lives of
a small town recently labeled with the black mark of
stigma. In the wake of the death of Matthew Shepard,
Laramie, Wyoming, will always be thought of as a town
that is not as safe as it appears. For those in the
gay community, it will always be a place that we
think twice before passing through, a place where we
watch our voices and mannerisms more closely. Through
the eloquent portrayals of the small-town
individuals, the cast helped to put a face to the
inhabitants of this town.
One quote that
sticks out in my mind as indicative of the way our
community is seen by many in various religious
groups, specifically in Oklahoma, was uttered by a
Mormon character who said, "A family is defined
as one woman, one man, and children." So Sister
Sledge was wrong; we are not family according to this
man, and others like him. Productions such as these
help us to realize what others are thinking. During
these years of political correctness, we do not hear
as much from the ultra-conservatives as we used to,
but their thoughts are still there. UCO is to be
applauded for reminding us that the fight is far from
over.
After the show,
there was a panel discussion where those who wanted
to participate could gather together and discuss the
issues most important to them. The moderator, Pam
Fleishaker, led the discussion with the help of her
four panelists: Paul Bashline, Thomas E. Guild,
Edward C. Kromer, and Rabbi A. David Packman.
Rabbi Packman took
the first opportunity to address the question on
everyone's mind after the show: Could this happen
here? According to Packman most of our political
leadership is hostile toward the gay community. The
Daily Oklahoman, the only newspaper with
statewide circulation, is extremely hostile toward
the gay community. Not to be left out, most of the
religious institutions in Oklahoma are increasingly
hostile as well. Given all this, Packman says, it
could most certainly happen here.
Paul Bashline
reinforced that idea, saying that it has already
happened here. In his memory, there was one overtly
hate-filled crime in recent history: the murder of
Chuck Meers, as well as three other unsolved murders
of gay men. According to Bashline, the media simply
fails to cover these tragedies. The apathy that runs
rampant throughout the printed media as well as the
local television news in Oklahoma prevents these
stories from having the same impact that stories of
similar import have in other communities.
Edward Kromer says
that the apathy extends beyond the media. For him,
one of the more moving parts of the play was its
account of the homecoming parade following Matthew
Shepard's murder, where the number of people marching
in Matthew's honor continued to grow as the parade
passed through the town. Kromer, one of the
organizers of the Pride Parade here in Oklahoma City
was especially touched by the idea of people stepping
off the safety of the sidewalk to show their support
for Shepard and his family. How great would it be if
the protesters who gather every year in the Homeland
parking lot would join our parade and show support
for fellow human beings?
Thomas Guild, a
professor of Business at UCO, gave hope to us all,
saying that things are better now than they were
before. In 1963, all fifty states had anti-sodomy
laws. However, at present, only a dozen still
maintain their hold on these barbaric forms of
legislature. Only Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and
Missouri have specifically anti-gay sodomy laws (in
Oklahoma, it is a felony punishable by up to twenty
years in prison). Thirteen states have gone to the
other side of the spectrum, passing civil rights
statutes, protecting the gay community from
discrimination. It was a welcomed upbeat
contribution, giving hope to us Oklahomans that
perhaps it will not always be this way.
However, at present,
the gay community in Oklahoma faces perhaps the
greatest obstacles of the entire country. Mayor Kirk
Humphreys, of Oklahoma City, is well known for his
dislike of the gay community, as well as the
handicapped, the women, and the African American
community. "The city is hopeless," Rabbi
Packman said, "but not the state." He
suggests that the local community will follow the
state legislators, so the best hope for change will
come on the state level. At present, the gay
community in Oklahoma has absolutely no defense
against any sort of discrimination. The men and women
of the community can be fired, thrown out of
restaurants, have their homes taken away, or have
their children taken away at the mere suspicion of
being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.
One audience member
asked, "With so many problems in the community,
where do we begin?" The four panelists offered a
unanimous answer, suggesting that the community
prioritize the issues. Then, one issue at a time, the
community should work to build up a defense for
itself. When one issue at a time is given the full
focus of the community, it stands a greater chance of
being changed, rather than spreading the energy out
among several issues.
Thomas Guild
suggested a grass-roots campaign to get more gay or
gay-friendly people elected to the lower level local
offices. According to him, only five to ten percent
of registered voters actually exercise their rights
in those elections, so it would be relatively easy to
encourage supporters to elect a candidate endorsed by
the gay community. Also, in the interest of the
younger crowd, it would be incredibly beneficial to
have a few members of the gay community elected to
the school board, where they could encourage anti-bullying
resolutions and perhaps save the next generation of
gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth from
enduring the hardships faced by many of us in the
"adult" community.
The panelists all
said that getting involved was essential to the
progress of the movement. Bashline and Kromer both
agreed that people do not typically get involved
until something personal happens, motivating them to
prevent further crimes. It is the opinion of this
writer that waiting for the next crime is not a
proactive solution. It is essential for all members
of the community to get involved in some way, no
matter how large or small the cause may seem. Even if
it is just being a positive example to those around
you, showing the non-gay community that our lives are
about more than sex (despite the fact that that is
the way they define us), it is imperative that we all
find a way to get involved. If you cannot figure out
a way on your own, call the Oklahoma City GLBT
Community Center at 524-6000 and ask how you can
contribute.
In short, UCO
offered a great opportunity for us all to connect
with each other and show our support for those in the
gay community who have gone on before us. If there is
any way that you can make it to the show and stay for
the panel discussion, it is well worth your time.
Thanks to the production cast and crew for showing us
a piece of our history, and for being long-time
supporters of our cause.
