In October of 1997, Matthew Shepard, a gay student attending the University of Wyoming was beaten and left to die tied to a fence post in Laramie, Wyoming. In the murder's aftermath Techtonic Theatre Project traveled to Laramie to talk with townspeople. The interviews they conducted forms the basis of "The Laramie Project", a moving and insightful piece of theatre by Moises Kaufman. It's coming to the Mainstage Theatre on the campus of Wake Forest University September 20-29th with evening performances at 7:30 pm and a weekend matinee at 2:00 pm. The Laramie Project is directed by Department of Theatre and Dance Associate Professor Brook Davis. She was joined at WFDD by actors Ali Buckman and Mike Dempsey.
In October 2009, the United States Congress passed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act and on October 28, 2009, President Barack Obama signed the legislation into law. 

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