KCWY
Almost twenty-years-ago Matthew Sheppard, a homosexual student at the University of Wyoming was beaten to death.
Now, every year, a symposium is held to honor his memory.
News 13’s Landon Harrar caught up with some homosexual Central Wyoming College students about living in a small Wyoming college town.
Just this year a Gay-Straight Alliance Club was started at CWC for anyone needing a friendly ear.
Aaron Goldberg from the Alliance shared, “I started it because I wanted to share there are gay people in this small town there is a support system for them there, so if they have a family that is not too keen on the idea of their child being gay they can come here.”
Another member, ShiDawn Gagon commented, “It’s nice to have people you can go to that can relate to you that has the same issues you had or have now.”
Coming out as gay in high school wasn’t easy said Goldberg, so seeing hundreds of high schoolers attending the Matthew Sheppard Symposium shows progress and forward thinking.
“Being in high school and being gay, it’s not the easiest thing and especially in Wyoming. I mean you get bullied regardless if your gay or straight but it’s just nice that they’re showing support for the high schoolers and they’re caring and there for them,” said Gagon.
She added, “When I was in high school we didn’t have anything like that, if you came out you were bullied, I had three or four friends who dropped out of high school because of it.”
Goldberg felt as society opens up towards different sexuality; it makes for a safer learning environment when there’s a healthy level of acceptance.
“Being in this small town people are going to be afraid to come out, afraid to show how they really are and I do honestly believe there are some students here who are actually in the closet and don’t want people to know just because they’re afraid of the consequences.”
Gagon added, “It’s changed a lot, it’s a lot safer for people and now there are places that you can go that you’re safe and you can talk to people and not be judged even if you don’t want to tell anybody.”
CWC’s Gay-Straight Alliance Club meets every Wednesday, all sexual orientations are welcome.
Goldberg said he’s been surprised with how the Riverton community accepts gays as it seems nobody really cares anymore how you identify, as long as you are a decent person.