HUC 101
Rachel Bianca Mallari
The Laramie Project
Our society have constructed the image and the way male and female should
behave. Our traits and gender roles are socially develop. Therefore, if you diverge on
the “normal” structure of masculinity and femininity, you are consider as a strange
and odd creature. Society will treat you as if you are some kind of a pest that should
not exist.
Matthew Shepard, the symbol of the damage caused by hatred and
homophobia stirred up controversy. When his brutal murder reached the front page
headline in the newspapers nationwide, it became a rallying point against intolerance.
His horrendous death was an eye opener to the society. Although, at that time
homosexual was not entirely socially acceptable, this incident somehow struck the
people. Every year there were 20 to 30 evidently identifiable anti-gay murders that
took place across the U.S., but none had ever caught the united conscience of the
country like the one that took place in Laramie, Wyoming. Shepard’s death revealed
that no matter what Americans thought about the homosexual lifestyle, they could
agree that such a dreadful and savage act had no place in our progressive society. At
that time many hopes were renewed for gay tolerance.
Society gives much importance to the self-image of its people. For me, it
doesn’t matter what you look like or how you act as long as you retain your values
and you are happy for who you really are and not what society condemns you to be. I
held a great revere on Shepard because he was one of the few people who weren’t
afraid to show their true nature. Actually, gay people are more active and appreciative
than the ordinary people. They acknowledge their self-concept despite the fact that
society criticize them.
Our gender expectations are not suppose to be barriers in achieving our goals.
Imagine If men are only expected to do “manly” things, what do you think will
happen to our fashion industry? Majority of the superb designers are populated by
gays and straight guys. Being a homosexual is not as obscene and disgraceful as we
think it is. There are lots of respected gays out there; some are even political leaders.
Our gender stereotyping is one of the main reason why we can’t accept the fact
that homosexuals are part of our society. The society doesn’t tolerate the idea that a
man takes on the part and identity of a woman. Hence, the society uses the media as a
tool to govern people’s mentality about gender.
The Laramie Project illuminates America's character in terms of its attitudes
about tolerance and acceptance, giving a wider and deeper perspective for people to
reflect about the nature of human sexuality.