Melissa Schultz & Rebecca Wiener

Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation

-To bring your attention to homo- and bisexuals in the media

-To bring your attention to gay hate crimes in an attempt to prevent future ignorance

“The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) is dedicated to promoting and ensuring fair, accurate and inclusive representation of people and events in the media as a means of eliminating homophobia and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.”http://www.glaad.org/about/

mission.php

“When I was in the military they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving

one. ”

~Epitaph of Leonard P. Matlovich, 1988

We’re living in a world of ignorance.

We’re living in a world of unfair judgement.

http://www.famousandgay.com

http://www.glaad.org/eye/ontv/index2007.php

-Matthew was 22 years old when he was murdered.

-He met Aaron McKinney and Russel Henderson at a bar one night in October and the conversation led to his admittance of being gay.

-They convinced him to follow them into a hidden place in a town called Laramie, Wyoming.

-The two men tied him to a fence, stole his wallet, and pistol whipped him until he was unconscious.

-They left him to die in the freezing Wyoming winter.

-He was found 18 hours later when a man thought people had hung a scarecrow on his fence.

-He died in a hospital six days later because of serious injuries.

-Based on interviews of various townspeople

-The play is often met with picket lines

-Reverend Fred Phelps preaches in a town near Laramie and is strongly outspoken against

homosexuality.

-After Shepard’s death, he hung up signs at his church saying “GOD HATES F**S” and “Shepard

is in hell and will be there for eternity”

“Shepard’s been in hell for five years. Do you want your kid to join him?”

-Picketers outside of UDHS

-Picketers arrived outside of our school when we performed The Laramie Project.

-Death threats were yelled at the audience members, Mrs. Thompson (the

director), and cast members.

-We got emails from the Reverend saying that our district will go to hell for

putting on what he called “a tacky piece of f** melodrama”

And this is in Upper Dublin.

o Gwen was born Eddie Araujo, Jr. in 1985.

o By the time he was a young teenager, Eddie had expressed an interest in becoming female.

oAt age 14, Eddie came out to his family that he felt like a girl trapped inside a boy’s body.

oAt age 17, he began dressing like a girl, and eventually he grew his hair out and began wearing makeup. He also went by the name of Gwen.

oThough her family had trouble initially accepting her, they always supported her.

oGwen had been dating an ex-marine named Joey. When Gwen’s mother told him of her true gender, they broke up; however, he accepted her.

oOn the evening of October 4, 2002, Gwen attended a party under the name “Lida. ” Joey’s ex-girlfriend was also at the party and decided to spread Gwen’s little secret.

oUpon discovery of this news, a minimum of three men took it upon themselves to beat Gwen, gash her head, drag her body, and tie a rope around her neck.

oThey then drove her body, dug a grave, and buried her where she was found in the Sierra foothills.

They killed her because she was transgender…She wasn’t lying, she was just being herself…

oMichael Magidson (27), Jaron Nabors (19), Jose Merel (24), Paul Merel Jr, (25), and Jason Cazares were arrested for Gwen’s murder.

o Two trials were held.

oPaul was released due to a lack of evidence.

oJaron confessed and led police to the body. He later plead guilty, and agreed to testify against his accomplices in exchange for an eleven year sentence.

oMichael and Jose were convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to fifteen years to life.

oJason received only a six year term.

~Gwen’s murder received a lot of media attention, which pleased the transgender community.

~Her story was turned into a Lifetime movie in 2006 entitled “A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story.”

~Gwen’s murder is a and should NOT be tolerated!

~YOU can make a difference. Take a stand against hate crimes.

These are acts of ignorance and GLAAD is trying to make

them stop.

Matthew and Gwen would both still be alive if society would step out of closed

ways and look at all people as equals.

Think about it.A kid is gay, what does it matter? Treat

her/him as an equal.

“Gay” is not a synonym for “stupid.” Homework isn’t gay. How would you feel if someone used “straight” as a

synonym for “stupid?”

Help. Promote all people.

Save. Remove ignorance.

Protect. Treat everyone equally.

Educate. Create a better world.

Erase

Hate.