Wednesday, January 13, 1999
Factory outlet
FEATURE: The Laugh Factory offers
an opportunity to relieve the pain and grief of Matthew
Shepard’s death with a benefit in his honor
By Michelle Zubiate
Daily Bruin Staff
As the old cliche rings, laughter always helps soothe the pains
of tragic memories. It truly becomes the best medicine when it
accomplishes some amount of good from any given situation without
undermining the cause of pain. Tonight the Laugh Factory presents a
benefit that seeks to raise money and awareness through a memorial
of one of the most tragic hate crimes of 1998.
On Oct. 12, Matthew Shepard, an openly gay man, was brutally
beaten and left to die as a result of a hate crime in Laramie, Wyo.
As a result, many organizations and memorials have since been
established to honor the 21-year-old’s memory and the virtues he
upheld.
The Laugh Factory, through the foresight of Jerome Cleary, a
West Hollywood City Council candidate, will produce a night of
comedy to raise awareness and money for the Matt Shepard
Scholarship.
Beginning with a candlelight vigil on the three-month
anniversary of Shephard’s death, the comedy lineup includes artists
such as John Fugelsang, Richard Jeni, Ellen Cleghorne and Jason
Stuart. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go directly to the
scholarship in hopes of creating an optimistic future through
lessons from the past.
"The Laugh Factory usually reserves Wednesday and Thursday
nights for benefits," says Cory Fry from the Laugh Factory
management. "Hopefully we will see an even bigger turn out than
usual for this one because of its importance and the popularity of
the cause."
Benefits regularly find their way to the Laugh Factory’s doors
because of the unique nature in which a little bit of fun can make
a difference. In this case, both the cause and the venue were a
perfect match.
"We’re not trying to make light of the situation," Fry says.
"We’re just trying to raise awareness in a different way. Laughter
brings people together and through that we hope to pass the word
on."
Cleary, the event’s organizer, created the idea and produced the
lineup of talent to make the event possible. He gives the Laugh
Factory a lot of credit for their support and generosity.
"This is the third benefit that I’ve held," Cleary says. "No
other place offered the same amount of passion and 100 percent
support towards the benefit as the Laugh Factory. It has definitely
made things run smoothly knowing that I don’t have to raise money
for the venue because the use of the Laugh Factory was given to us
for free."
The idea began in October shortly after the brutal crime
occurred. The stigma attached to gays and lesbians remains a
dangerous hotbed of crime and ignorance still, and people like
Cleary continue to devote their time to break apart the
tension.
"Things shouldn’t be this way in 1999." Cleary says. "There
isn’t enough support and protection for gay people but especially
in small towns. Hopefully, the scholarship will help uphold and
support the vision of the student trying to make it in a small
town. There, being gay is harder because it is seen as a big city
thing of a cosmopolitan nature."
The candlelight vigil was included to add to the night’s theme
of remembrance. Cleary offered the idea as a way to pray for
Shepard and offer condolences to those that knew him and those that
have also suffered through hate crimes.
"Shepard could be your brother, son, next-door neighbor, etc.,"
Cleary says. "It’s one thing when a little kid is picked on for
wearing glasses, but its unacceptable for a man to be attacked with
slurs, beaten or even murdered."
The combined effort of comedians and members of the Los Angeles
community will hopefully achieve another step toward enlightenment
and tolerance. Although we are seeing fewer hate crimes over the
years, Cleary points out that it is important to learn from the
past.
"If the night does one thing tonight, I hope it keeps people
remembering last October and what Shepard went through," Cleary
says. "People must not go into 1999 forgetting."
BENEFIT: There will be a candlelight vigil at 7:30 p.m. tonight
outside the Laugh Factory in Hollywood. The comedy benefit show
will follow at 8:30 p.m. inside. Tickets are $20. For ticket
information, call (323) 656-1336.DERRICK KUDO/Daily Bruin
Vincent Bidez, a third-year chemical engineering student, joined
in the silent protest against the slaying of Matthew Shepard in
Royce Quad this past October.
Laugh Factory
The candlelight vigil for Matthew Shepard will be held at the
Laugh Factory on Sunset Boulevard tonight at 7:30.
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