The Laramie Project

The Laramie Project

by

Moisés Kaufman

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The Laramie Project: Act 1: Who’s getting what? Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
In a monologue, Doc O’Connor says that there are more gay people in Wyoming than it might initially appear, though they are not all recognizably, stereotypically gay. Instead, Doc says, they are tough, farmer types, who will fight anyone who messes with them. Doc says he knows a lot of gay people in Wyoming, and he adds that he does not think Wyoming people care if someone is gay or straight, implying there is a lot of gay activity that is somewhat hidden.
Doc’s belief that there are more gay people in Wyoming than meets the eye suggests that many gay people in the state feel that they have to remain closeted in order to be accepted. While Doc says people do not care if someone is gay or straight, he also suggests that gay men must be hyper masculine and hushed in order to be “tolerated.”
Themes
Homophobia, Tolerance, and Acceptance Theme Icon