High School Bans Trans Senior From Playing Lead In OKLAHOMA!

High school senior Max Hightower was cast as the lead in his school’s musical production of Oklahoma! as “Curley” in Sherman, Texas. But then the principal decided Max wouldn’t be allowed to play the role because he’s a transgender male. https://twitter.com/KXIITV/status/1721673596123099552 “He puts in the effort. I mean, I can’t tell you how many times they’ve been singing in the bedroom,” said Max’s father, Phillip Hightower. Hightower said his son previously played historically female supporting characters in Sherman theater shows, “but they allowed Max to dress up as a male.” The father also notes that going back to Shakespeare’s time actors and actresses have played opposite sex roles. The school district admits this isn’t a policy that existed prior to Max’s casting in Oklahoma!

Plus, since there weren’t enough boys to fill out the male ensemble, girls were cast as “cowboys,” but they have now been informed they can’t play those chorus roles. Natalie Ball, a sophomore, is among the 20 students who’ve been told they can’t perform in an opposite-gender role. Ball says she didn’t care what role she was given, adding,  “I just wanted to be cast in the show.” Ball said she previously played a male chef in a Sherman Middle School production of The Little Mermaid Junior. “It’s never been an issue,” she added. Additionally, the school has postponed the production of Oklahoma! due to “profanity” and “sexual content” even though the 1943 show has been performed at Sherman High School in the past. More info here. https://twitter.com/KXIITV/status/1722393446621552720