A Texas school district has reversed a decision to bar a transgender man from playing a male role in a school production of “Oklahoma!” after the reaction.
The Sherman Independent School Board initially stopped the play after insisting that roles should be played by students according to their gender.
Some girls who were initially assigned male roles were also prohibited from doing so.
“As it relates to this particular production, the gender of the role as identified in the script will be used during casting,” the district said in a statement last week.
The district contended that the script contained mature themes inappropriate for high school students — and scenes in which the characters kiss, according to the Dallas Morning News.
District sources said some parents and students initially voiced their concerns to school officials, but then fell silent as the controversy reached a deadline.
Transgender student Ma Hightower was initially barred from playing a male role in the play.WFAA
Transgender student, Max Hightower, told his parents that he would not be allowed to play a male role, and the family announced their objection.
“This is the biggest role Max has ever had, this is solo,” his father, Philip Hightower, told a local ABC affiliate before the reversal. “This will be the highlight of his career.”
After initial uproar, the school said it would allow roles to be filled regardless of gender — but said Friday that the production would instead use a “teenage” version of the play that would alter the mature content.
Sherman Independent School District officials later reversed the decision after protests.WFAA
But the board was forced to abandon the plan after an emotional board meeting Monday where dozens of speakers supported Hightower and the use of the original script.
Only one person questioned the use of the adult version.
“I’m transgender, I risk coming out to my entire homophobic family for this because this is the hill I’m going to die on!” a speaker stated.
The school initially argued that the production was inappropriate for high school children.WFAA
“Bring back the real version of ‘Oklahoma!’ and let the students sing!” another speaker said to applause.
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Hightower’s supporters march argued that the board isolates LGBTQ students in the community and increases the risk of suicide.
District sources said they were contacted by parents who were uncomfortable with the production – but they failed to materialize at the meeting.
The panel went into private session after the public comment period ended before voting unanimously to reinstate the original cast and standard version of the production.
“It was emotional and empowering,” Hightower said later according to the Dallas Morning News. “I didn’t think there was any hatred at all. This is something that feels so big and out of my hands. To know there’s a huge group of people who want to help me, and help everyone affected, it feels like we’re on the same side now and can actually win this fight.”
Dozens of speakers supported Max Hightower at Monday’s school board meeting.WFAA
Board President Brad Morgan later issued a statement.
“We would like to apologize to our students, parents and community for the situation they have had to go through up to this date,” the statement said. “We understand that our decision does not erase this impact on our community, but we hope that we will reinforce to everyone, especially our students, that we accept all of the goals of our Board of Directors, including addressing the diverse needs of our students. and empower them to succeed in a diverse and complex world.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
