Has Anything Changed?

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  • Posted By: EthanHusseinWyatt @ 10/09/2008 9:34:06 AM

    Dont' worry, Palin will tollerate the gays in Wyoming... but will veto the Matthew Sheppard bill.

    • Posted By: RockRibbedConservative @ 10/09/2008 10:59:43 AM

      She's going to put forth her own bill: The Jesse Dirkhising Child Protection Bill that will impose severe penalties for hate crimes against minors.

      • Posted By: EthanHusseinWyatt @ 10/09/2008 12:14:24 PM

        Against minors, not homosexuals. But maybe her bill will 'tolerate' gay minors, who knows. But, I'll believe it when I see it.

        • Posted By: RockRibbedConservative @ 10/09/2008 12:25:03 PM

          Jesse Dirkhising was a 13 year old boy who was brutally raped and murdered by two homosexual predators and ignored by nearly most of the media.

          • Posted By: EthanHusseinWyatt @ 10/09/2008 12:32:41 PM

            Oh I see, so all homosexuals are child predators. You're just like that hick in the movie Borat who thinks all homosexuals are out to rape the children of America. Going by your standards then all priests are pedophiles, and all pastors are soliciting male prostitutes. Maybe we need a law against them too!

            This country doesn't have a homosexual "problem" it has a religion problem that demonizes anything that doesn't follow your religion's rules.

            • Posted By: RockRibbedConservative @ 10/09/2008 6:23:38 PM

              When did I say that? The Bible says: "from the abundance of the heart, the moth speaks"
              Your comment says more about you than anything I said.
              You don't have a problem with me, but you do with God.

              • Posted By: StevenLee @ 10/14/2008 12:30:41 PM

                Those who speak the most about God and man made religion ignore history and their own sinfulness. Look hard enough and long enough and you can justification for anything in the Bible.

          • Posted By: TheVigil @ 10/09/2008 6:06:52 PM

            Dirkhising's killing was deplorable and abominable. It probably should have gotten media coverage equivalent to Shepard's.

            But do you know why it probably didn't? No news network wanted to be responsible for retaliatory killings or the moral panic that might have ensued. The news of Shepard's death didn't provoke, say, a wave of revenge violence against innocent straight people. The news of Dirkhising's death might have easily provoked further discrimination and violence against gays. You want to make sure people like Dirkhising get exposure, stop the discrimination that leads to fears like that.

            • Posted By: RockRibbedConservative @ 10/09/2008 6:33:28 PM

              "Probably"? You know why it didn't, the murderers were homosexuals and the media always portrays homosexuals as "victims".
              There would be no wave of violence towards homosexuals than there would be against s illegal aliens because some of them have killed Americans such as the recent murder of teenagers in Newark by an illegal.

  • Posted By: CelticWomanofOregon @ 10/14/2008 12:07:21 PM

    I went to school in Laramie in 1985, to finish up my four year degree from Brigham Young University when I ran short of money. I didn't make it a practice of telling people that I was "Mormon". It was pretty well understood that being Mormon was considered unacceptable. My boyfriend at the time went to U of W, and went out of his way to make sure that I didn't wear the BYU sweatshirt or talk about it . . . I guess he was afraid he would end up having to defend me froma beat-down. When I talk to people about Matthew Shepard and they express their disbelief that this could happen, my response is that I'm surprise that it didn't happen the first day he went public. I'm from Wyoming, and I still have many friends back there. Despite what this article wants to present, it hasn't changed much. There are brave people that are trying to make a difference, but Wyoming it still about a century behind the times.
    Tamera

  • Posted By: notes @ 10/14/2008 9:30:39 AM

    Reading the comments, it is obvious that most of you have never read "The Laramie Project" or watched it on video. "The Laramie Project" is about more then just gay rights. The whole basis of the story is to open everyone's eyes to discrimination. It is about people and beliefs. If you have not read the play or watched the movie on it, I highly suggest that you do.

    I had the opportunity to direct the play at the high school I taught at. This was our one act play. We went to state and received a standing ovation. Later that night we recieved the highest honors we could from our rendition. It was the students that took the play and made it their own. I can not tell you how honored I was from being able to direct a play of this magnitute.

    If you are reading this, please do your homework and look at the play and the story before you make your comment.

  • Posted By: Laramielocal @ 10/13/2008 4:25:11 PM

    I was born and raised in Laramie Wyoming. Just wanted to let you people know that homophobia is not the norm there. I am heterosexual, however my best friend is not. I am no longer living there but would love to raise my children there if my career permitted. I am now in California and and would rather be in a midwestern town.

  • Posted By: Laramielocal @ 10/13/2008 4:20:24 PM

    I was born and raised in Laramie Wyoming. I have since moved on but would love to return to the community if my career allowed me to. I am a heterosexual, however my bestfriend is not. Just wanted you people to know that most people in Laramie are not homophobic. Just a normal midwest town!!!!

  • Posted By: NorthMiamiDave @ 10/13/2008 4:00:57 PM

    Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama issued a statement October 12 regarding the 10 years since Matthew Shepard was murdered. Read the entire statement here:

    http://www.gaysofla.com/content/view/402/51/

    As of Monday, October 13, 2008 at 3:15 PM the McCain/Palin campaign issued NO comment or statement. But of course they wouldn???t. It would offend their ???Republican Base???!

  • Posted By: millerm84 @ 10/09/2008 4:49:53 PM

    In the 10 years that Matthew Shepard was murdered; a great amount of change has occurred in this country. Homosexual rights is a national issue now, states have went back and forth granting and dismissing so called gay marriage. Fact of the matter is that too many people take a few passages from the Bible and expect every one in this country to blindly follow them. Homosexuality is not a new phase or a fad, it is dated to the very earliest civilizationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homosexuality#History
    RockRibbedConservative the reason that the Jesse Dirkhising case didn't receive more press is because there are enough heterosexual men who rape and brutally murder young women (think *** to teen to elderly) in this country that 2 homosexual men doing the same to a 13 year old boy isn't that far removed. Matthew Shepard was targeted because he was gay that defines hate crime, Jesse Dirkhising was being molested for months prior to his death, both of the men involved were under the influence of meth http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Dirkhising This makes Jesse a target of sexual predators; making his case no less brutal, but not a hate crime.

    • Posted By: Maggymae @ 10/13/2008 9:55:13 AM

      miiler84 you got it wrong, media didnt make a big deal of Jesse Dirkhising BECAUSE THE GAY WOULD CRY DISCRIMINATION !!!!!

      • Posted By: ghostmasseur @ 10/13/2008 12:20:58 PM

        maggymae,

        You have no proof of the absurd claim.
        You are just spouting mindless drivel.

        Waht the gay community woul dhave been correct in pointing out was that being gay abe being a pedophile are not synonomous terms. As long as the press pointed out that although the two murderers were pedophile who just so happened to be gay there would ahve been no problem. Unfortunatley there are way too many uneducated fools out there who forget that pedophilia is not related to homosexuality per se. There are heterosexual pedophiliacs as well.

    • Posted By: RockRibbedConservative @ 10/09/2008 7:12:40 PM

      First of all, you need to read actual news reports and court proceedings, not wikapedia.
      It is well known that wikapedia is riddled with errors as anyone can change anything.
      The DA in the Shepherd case said this was a drug deal gone bad. Homosexuals and heterosexuals abuse meth and the consequences can be brutal.
      The fact that the media can pick and choose whatever they focus on and you know it.
      Murder is a hate crime no matter who does it.

  • Posted By: american_dream_is_gone @ 10/09/2008 10:53:17 AM

    OF COURSE NOTHING HAS CHANGED!!!!

    Do you honestly think that in a country that still hates black people, they are going to accept Gays and Lesbians.. HA!!!

    The main reason is that here, just like in the Arab world, religious extremists have taken over the country and are using their religious views to condone hate and violence to certain groups of people. And the American public is too stupid to even question it.

    • Posted By: Maggymae @ 10/13/2008 9:41:48 AM

      you're nuts this country has excepted the blacks, they wont gays because it is immoral.
      and we are WELL aware of these exstremist groups, 911 took care of that

  • Posted By: rickahyatt @ 10/12/2008 9:20:38 PM

    Perhaps the question should be: Why weren't the two captured when reported in 1995 when a local Drug Dealer, whose place I was watching for the cops, put out a "Hit" on me & my son? (There were false rumors about my sexuality that fueled them on, as well.) The Dealer set us to go to a camping spot, where... Reported repeatedly, nothing done. http://www.rickhyatt.freeservers.com/pages/mckenny henderson.html

  • Posted By: missjenn1772 @ 10/10/2008 12:00:57 PM

    I don't understand why this issue revolves around sexuality. It was MURDER. What difference does it make that he was gay? I refuse to believe that there aren't straight men or women that have the same fate. Why does this case create so much drama? You can be killed for wearing the wrong colors, but you don't see everyone in an uproar for that. it's a total shame that the issue of sexuality is hazing the real problem; murder.

    • Posted By: loverof people @ 10/12/2008 2:13:29 AM

      SO TRUE MATHEW WADS A PERSON AND IT WAS MURDER PLAIN AND SIMPLE,STOP RIGHT NOW AND LET THE HATE GO.EMBRACE LOVE RM L

  • Posted By: loverof people @ 10/12/2008 2:04:21 AM

    I cannot belive in this day and age there such hate for people who are different.Where is the love.I cannot imagine how the family must feel.Mathew may not of been an angel,but he was a loving young man who cared about people.Mathew rest in peace.Ron

  • Posted By: ThunderWolf6 @ 10/11/2008 6:09:35 PM

    Not All Countries are Scared About Showing if they are Gay look at Europe they show it and dont say a word!!!I was there 6 years never seen a Problem We had alot of Friends who are GAY and was there for me and my wife.Its The U.S that has the Problem with these Special People They cant Take It when they see The Gay People around so what Iam not Gay But I would Let them in my Home if they needed a place to stay!!! It was Like the African Americans they had Problems with them still do and I think Its all Wrong Too Sit down with either one or both and Talk with them both are GREAT both Ihave Saved my Live Many Times and Iam Greatful For this!!!!

  • Posted By: amazedbytheignorance @ 10/10/2008 5:33:40 PM

    I am not gay either, but if I was I would not be ashamed. I believe that according to the Bible God is the only one that can judge, not you. And by you presuming to speak for God I guess that makes you worse than all of these other people in the world that you hate for being different from you.

    • Posted By: Kicks7 @ 10/10/2008 5:40:14 PM

      I agree with you completely. At least there are people in the world who aren't so narrow minded.

  • Posted By: Kicks7 @ 10/10/2008 5:38:27 PM

    Who even knows if there truly is a "GOD"! Who are you to judge anyone!! The bible also says those who are without sin should throw the first stone! Guess what you are not without sin so shut up about other people's lives! if they're happy with being gay then back off! They're not hurting you so shut up and you to will be judge on the way you judge others! So look in the mirror when you start judging people! Because one day you to will be judged!

  • Posted By: amazedbytheignorance @ 10/10/2008 5:27:33 PM

    All of you close minded people preaching about what everyone else is doing need to take a look at your own lives. You are what is wrong with this country. You are what is wrong with this world. Live and let live. Murder is Murder and people have a right to be who they are and live their lives without fear of people like you judging them.

  • Posted By: ndrock @ 10/10/2008 5:21:11 PM

    I too would like to know how being gay had any thing to do with this murder? I agree, that just because the dude was gay the gay community and their Democrat liberal sidekicks used this to promote gay. Doesn't matter what side of the fence I stand on in the "gay issue", is not the point.
    Murder is murder, and the fact that he was gay should never, never even been brought into it.
    Take gay out of the equation and look at the real issues and you get just what happened. A robbery gone bad with drug users. Nothing more, nothing less!

  • Posted By: amazedbytheignorance @ 10/10/2008 5:20:29 PM

    All of you close minded people preaching about what everyone else is doing need to take a look at your own lives. You are what is wrong with this country. You are what is wrong with this world. Live and let live. Murder is murder and people have a right to be who they are and live their lives without fear of people like you judging them.

  • Posted By: flutesinger63 @ 10/10/2008 4:24:05 PM

    What differnce does your sexual prefernce make, if you love the person you are with for how ever long that may be, shouldn't that be enough? It is time to acept people for who they are without hate, violence, homophobia, or racism. If not for ourselves then for our children, show them a better way.

  • Posted By: hmjohnson342 @ 10/10/2008 1:47:44 PM

    The high school in the community I live in performed The Laramie Project 5 years ago. It was amazing. I did not get to attend but the rest of my family did and they said they loved it. The community still talks about it. Now reading these comments makes me sad. Jesus taught us to love our neighbors and brothers. He sat with tax collecters and beggars. I can't believe what some people will say. Jesus is up in heaven not shaking a fist but crying because we have twisted his message so much that we now miss the big picture of LOVE. I am crying right now because I have just lost faith in our world. I am 16.

  • Posted By: it's just me@26 @ 10/10/2008 1:21:59 PM

    I attended the University of Wyoming a year after Matthew Shepard was murdered. I would like to point out that unfortunately there is ignorance and bigotry all over the US and the world. I think it is sad that a town like Laramie, which has a lot of good people, is marked as a stereotype of small-mindedness and intolerance. Hopefully the one positive thing that came out of this tragedy is that EVERYONE, not just the citizens of Wyoming, can make changes in their community with regard to understanding and accepting those who might be different than you are.

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