Trevor project.

Not published because it was deemed too controversial.

As many of you may have heard, there had been a lot of speculation about “Laramie Project,” a play portraying the events that took place before, during, and after Mathew Shepherds murder in 1998, and one of the most performed productions in America, which was being shown at Fargo South High school in weeks prior. The reason for this attention was the fact that a well-known religious group, Westboro Baptist Church, who’s extreme protests, picketing at military funerals, and anti-gay agenda have earned them the label of a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League, had made an announcement that they would stage a protest against the play.
This announcement sparked a wave of discontent and concern among many Fargo and Moorhead students of both college age and high school, especially givin the fact that the WBC also had the nerve to stage a disturbing campaign on our very campus a few years ago; a sight that quite honestly disgusted me seeing as they held it right outside the daycare.
In response to this threat of protest against the hard working students and faculty putting on the play, on February 18 in the Rainbow room, a small group of GSA members and myself banded together to make signs of support. If the WBC was going to protest, we sure as hell weren’t going to take it lying down.
On February 20, despite the blistering cold, a group of picketers from MSUM as well as the high school lined on the street opposite the building for hours to show support for the performance while a squad car waited quietly in the parking lot.
I asked a few of them if they knew about the WBCs threat to attend, and while some of them hadn’t heard about them and had just come to watch the play and support it, they were appalled at the idea of such a strong opposition being present at what was supposed to be an event meant to teach and inform the community. “It’s important for these types of messages to be supported by members of the community, and for people to learn that there are always options out there,” says NDSU picketer and attendee of the production.
I totally agree. Its depressing to think that radical groups like the WBC are still out there spreading messages of intolerance and hate, hurting good people in the process.
While the WBC did not show up at the play -a turn of events that I’m sure the school faculty were thankful for, - in preparation for the counter-protests efforts, the signs made by MSUM’s GSA organization voiced strong support of the LGBT community, including moving quotes from scripture and visually impacting signs that displayed a noose being cut with the words “Cut the Hate.” My favorite signs however were the ones that advertized The Trevor Project, whose mission it is to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing resources nation wide, a 24/7crisis intervention lifeline, a digital community, and educational programs.
James Lecesne, Peggy Rajski, and Randy Stone, who created the 1994 short film “Trevor,” a comedy about a gay 13-year-old boy who is rejected by his friends because of his sexuality and tries to take his own life, founded the Trevor Project. Because of the issues that the film addressed, when “Trevor” was scheduled to air on HBO, Lecesne, Rajski, and Stone decided to create a hotline for young individuals who might be faced with similar problems. This hotline, the Trevor Lifeline, became the first nationwide, 24/7 crisis and suicide prevention lifeline for LGBTQIA youth.
Jessa Dronen who came to support the play with her friend and her boyfriend, stated that she is proud of South High for putting on this production and relayed that; “Hate has no room in the community.” I am personally proud of the show of support that the community displayed for this play, made even more steadfast by the fact that everyone came despite the risk of frostbite.
To all of you who attended, I hope you will continue to support the LQBTQAI community and never let people get you down. As one of the picketers, Justine Skauge added; “I believe in it as long as it’s love.” –Stay Curious!