In 1998, on a bitter-cold October night in Laramie,Wyoming – a 21-year-old student at the University named Matthew Shepard was kidnapped from a local lounge, robbed, raped, mercilessly beaten and left to die. And six days later, he did….and all because he was gay. This became a national scandal and it has been chosen as the principal event for Vashon Island Commemorates World AIDS Day and the David Serko Project, in partnership with the Matthew Shepard Foundation, Not on Our Island, Take a Stand Theatre, Vashon Repertory Theatre, Vashon Island Film Institute and the Vashon School District, invites the public to a powerful weekend of remembrance, community dialogue and inspiration. On Saturday, December 7th, at the Vashon High School Theater at 5PM there will be an exhibit of cards and letters received by the Shepard family, illustrating the profound impact of his story. At 6:30 there will be a staged reading of The Laramie Project by the distinguished playwright, Moises Kaufman, directed by Chris Boscia with a cast of many familiar island actors and crew, including Cate O’Kane, who will facilitate a post-performance Discussion for which Dennis Shepard, Matthew’s father, will be present. And on Sunday, December 8th at 1:00 at the Vashon Theatre there will be a screening of How to Survive a Plague, a film recounting the efforts of AIDS activists who pushed the government and medical establishment to develop and approve life-savng treatments in the late 1980’s and early ‘90’s w/ Peter Serko moderating. This has been a Voice of Vashon Public Service Announcement