[MCN] Laramie Project

[Info EmpowerMT]

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Empower Montana Produces a Staged reading of The
Laramie ProjectPress Contact: Heidi Wallace: Executive Director
406-541-6891 Heidi at empowermt.org <Heidi at empowermt.org>Missoula, MT- This
October marks the 20th anniversary of Matthew Shepard's murder, and
EmpowerMT will be honoring his life with a production of The Laramie
Project. After Matthew’s murder in 1998, members of the Tectonic Theater
Project in New York City traveled to Laramie, Wyoming, to interview
residents about how the attack on Matt had affected the town. These
transcripts were transformed into the play The Laramie Project, which tells
the stories of real people who lived at the epicenter of one of the
nation’s most heinous anti-gay hate crimes. The stark reality is that the
climate within our communities, state, and nation continues to perpetuate
violence, discrimination, and destructive policies toward our LGBTQ+
community members twenty years later.EmpowerMT is hosting a reading of the
Laramie Project in conjunction with a community discussion led by
EmpowerMT’s LGBTQ+ youth leaders and guest director for the Laramie
Project, Gregory Hinton. Hinton is a native Montanan, an author, historian
and keynote lecturer. Hinton’s work explores diverse cultural themes and
how they relate to the community-at-large. A son of the rural Rocky
Mountain West, Hinton devotes his energies to shining a light on LGBTQ+
history and culture. With Hinton’s direction, this production of the
Laramie Project will have a significantly positive impact on teaching
acceptance and examining the effect of homophobia and prejudicial violence
on marginalized people and whole communities. EmpowerMT supports,
mobilizes, and engages LGBTQ+ youth and allies as leaders in tackling
individual and institutional transphobia and homophobia in an effort to
build safer schools and communities. Through this event we hope to educate,
activate, and elevate voices to create systemic change for LGBTQ+ community
members in Montana.EmpowerMT welcomes all to the staged reading of The
Laramie Project, presented by special arrangement with Dramatists Play
Service, Inc., New York on Saturday, October 20, 2018, at 7:00 pm in the UC
theatre. Tickets for the community will be available for $10.00 at the door
(student ticket price is $5.00). The Community discussion and youth panel
Coming Out West will be on Friday October 19 at 1:00-2:30pm in the
University Center.If community members are interested in donating to
EmpowerMT, they may do so by visiting our website at
https://www.empowermt.org/donate/ <https://www.empowermt.org/donate/>. All
donations will be used to support our programs that serve LGBTQ+ youth.*


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2300 Regent St. Suite #101
Missoula, MT 59801
406-541-6891
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