JEDADIAH SCHULTZ: My parents were like, “So what plays are you doing this year at school?” And I was like, “Angels in America,” and I told them the whole list of plays. And they’re like, “Angels in America? Is that … that play you did in high school? That scene you did in high school?” And I was like, “Yeah.” And she goes: “Huh. So are you gonna audition for it?” And I was like, “Yeah.” And we got in this huge argument … and my best, the best thing that I knew I had them on is it was just after they had seen me in a performance of Macbeth, and onstage like I murdered like a little kid, and Lady Macduff and these two other guys and like and she goes, “Well, you know homosexuality is a sin”—she kept saying that—and I go, “Mom, I just played a murderer tonight. And you didn’t seem to have a problem with that …”

I tell you. I’ve never prepared myself this much for an audition in my life. Never ever. Not even close.

ROB DEBREE: Not having to deal that much with the gay society here in Laramie.

NARRATOR: Detective Sergeant Rob DeBree:

ROB DEBREE: Well, once we started working into the case, and actually speaking to the people that were gay and finding out what their underlying fears were, well, then it sort of hit home. This is America. You don’t have the right to feel that fear.

And we’re still going to have people who hold with the old ideals, and I was probably one of them fourteen months ago. I’m not gonna put up with it, and I’m not going to listen to it. And if they don’t like my views on it, fine. The door goes both ways. I already lost a couple of buddies. I don’t care. I feel more comfortable and I can sleep at night.

REGGIE FLUTY: Well, you’re tested every three months.

NARRATOR: Reggie Fluty:

REGGIE FLUTY: And I was able to have the DNA test done. And so they got me to Fort Collins, they drew the blood there, flew it to Michigan, and did all the DNA work there and—which was—a week later … I knew I was negative for good.

MARGE MURRAY: I’ll tell ya, we were all on our knees saying Hail Marys.

REGGIE FLUTY: You were just elated, you know, and you think, “Thank God!”

MARGE MURRAY: So what’s the first thing she does?

REGGIE FLUTY: I stuck my tongue right in my husband’s mouth. I was just happy, you know, you’re just so happy. You think, “Yeah, I hope I did this service well,” you know, I hope I did it with some kind of integrity. So, you’re just really happy … and my daughters just bawled.

MARGE MURRAY: They were so happy.

REGGIE FLUTY: And the force …

MARGE MURRAY: Oh boy …