The theme of prejudice runs deeply through The Laramie Project. Prejudice can stem from factors like social class, education, economic status, religion, or sexual orientation. When an individual clings stubbornly to one perspective and is unable to see another, and more importantly, refuses to accept others who do, prejudice emerges. In this play, the town grapples with different degrees of prejudice. Some characters embody extreme viewpoints, such as Reverend Fred Phelps, who is so convinced that homosexuality is wrong that he claims God Himself harbors hate. Other characters, like Jedadiah Schultz's parents, exhibit less intense prejudice. They chose not to attend Jedadiah’s scholarship audition because he performed a scene involving homosexuality. Although they missed a significant event in their son’s life, their prejudice, in this instance, did not physically harm him. It remains unclear whether Matthew Shepard's alleged murderers were motivated by prejudice against homosexuals or if they used that as a justification for their actions. Essentially, the question is whether they attacked Matthew so brutally because of his sexual orientation or if they would have done the same to any other student they might have targeted that night.

Marge Murray briefly addresses a form of prejudice possibly rooted in a mix of class, education, and economic factors. She notes a divide between those in minimum-wage jobs without higher education and those employed at the university, suggesting that one group looks down on the other, which is where prejudice can begin.

Following Matthew Shepard’s murder, some members of Laramie's gay community feared for their safety, worried that other heterosexual residents might target them similarly. Their concerns were based not only on the prejudice others might hold against the gay community but also on the prejudice some within the gay community might feel toward the townspeople. The fear that someone from the straight community might commit a similar act is, in itself, a form of prejudice. Stereotyping a macho cowboy is as prejudiced as stereotyping a gay individual.

Within the play, there's a conversation about why Matthew Shepard's murder garnered such extensive media coverage. At the same time, a police officer was also killed, yet it attracted little attention. Aaron McKinney’s father remarks that if Matthew Shepard had been heterosexual, the crime might not have received as much focus. So, what sets Shepard’s murder apart? Why is it considered particularly atrocious? A random murder, like one during a robbery, seems less sensational, while a crime driven by hatred appears more deliberate. Is it the motivation behind the crime that draws so much attention? Historically, legislative efforts to define hate crimes have ignited national discussions. Should these definitions encompass crimes against disabled individuals or those from different nationalities? What about crimes targeting people based on sexual orientation? And how can one establish that a crime is indeed a hate crime? The play doesn't offer conclusions. It presents the facts, leaving the audience to interpret them. Was Shepard's death a hate crime? Or was it a random act with no premeditation or targeted hatred? The answer remains open for debate.

Conflict is the driving force in this dramatic piece, and this play is full of it. There is the evident clash between individuals who embrace a gay lifestyle and those who follow a straight one. Additionally, there is tension among various religious groups and their different interpretations of the Bible or their spiritual beliefs. Another source of conflict is the dynamic between parents and children, particularly in the case of Jedadiah Schultz, whose parents disapprove of his involvement with anything related to homosexuality. Furthermore, there are internal struggles,...