Romaine Patterson Character Analysis in The Laramie Project

Romaine Patterson is a university student, a close friend of Matthew Shepard’s, and an openly lesbian woman. Romaine tells her interviewers about her friendship with Matthew and how she was extremely upset about Matthew’s murder. Romaine organized a counter protest to block Reverend Fred Phelps’s hate speech at the criminal trials by having people wear angel wings and totally encircle the minister. After her experience organizing around Matthew’s death, Romaine decided to pursue a career in political activism. Romaine shows how, in the wake of Matthew’s murder, many people who were already supportive of LGBT rights became even more outspoken about their views.

Romaine Patterson Quotes in The Laramie Project

The The Laramie Project quotes below are all either spoken by Romaine Patterson or refer to Romaine Patterson. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:

Homophobia, Tolerance, and Acceptance Theme Icon

). Note: all page numbers and citation info for the quotes below refer to the Dramatists Play Service edition of The Laramie Project published in 2001.

I decided that someone needed to stand toe to toe with this guy and show the differences. And I think at time like this when we’re talking about hatred as much as the nation is right now, that someone needs to show, that there is a better way of dealing with that kind of hatred. So our idea is to dress up like angels.

Related Characters: (speaker), ,

Page Number and Citation: 73

Explanation and Analysis:

Romaine Patterson Character Timeline in The Laramie Project

The timeline below shows where the character Romaine Patterson appears in The Laramie Project. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

Trish Steger refers the theater company to her sister Romaine Patterson , a close friend of Matthew Shepard’s. Romaine then appears, talking about how, in their... (full context)

...and beginning to feel that he could make a difference. The floor switches back to Romaine Patterson , who says that Matthew told her he had joined a campus gay and lesbian... (full context)

Romaine Patterson , however, notes that Matthew Shepard was a naturally chatty person, who would easily strike... (full context)

...name. Jon Peacock was initially in denial that it was the Matthew Shepard he knew. Romaine Patterson gives her reaction to the news, talking about how a friend took her aside and... (full context)

Violence, Punishment, and Justice Theme Icon

...who received a call from reporters and quickly became the hospital’s spokesperson to the media. Romaine Patterson , Jon Peacock, Matt Galloway, and Matt Mickelson all describe their overlapping reactions of shock,... (full context)

Religion, Morality, and Prejudice Theme Icon

...company went back to Laramie for Russell Henderson’s trial, where Fred Phelps was also protesting. Romaine Patterson , who was a friend of Matthew Shepard’s, decided to organize a counter-protest for the... (full context)

Next, Romaine Patterson talks about how she has changed since the beginning of the project. Romaine says she... (full context)