Max Hightower (he/him) was denied by his school to play the lead male role in his school’s play “Oklahoma!” after the school’s claim that the actors could only play roles that “aligned with their sex at birth.”
Sherman High school, located in North Texas, serves approximately 2,100 students and is under fire after denying Hightower’s lead role just days after he was cast. As a result, he will no longer be able to perform in the play.
After this decision was made, the school board voted to replace the play with a one hour “youth edition” of the play. However, the school board later decided to reverse their decision and revived the play, including Hightower’s lead role.
The decision comes about as over 60 people gathered outside the school board, unsatisfied with the first decision of significantly cutting out parts of the play. This would’ve meant that Hightower would only be able to sing one song. After much protest from both parents and students, the board met with an attorney and revived the play fully.
This is victorious for Hightower, as many schools no longer offer safe havens to trans students, while many conservative lawmakers continue to make laws against trans kids. Hightower was overjoyed at the amount of support there was for him during this difficult time. This just goes to show that love and acceptance does, in fact, exist in this world.
Hightower will now be able to lead and play in one of his biggest roles for the student yet The school board apologized for the inconvenience and confusion that was caused during the time of the unknown for the play.
Schools recently are under attacks by conservative lawmakers whom have aimed at silencing the rights of trans kids in the school districts they lead. This event is a heartwarming one, as a community came together to defend a student who was proud of a role he not only deserves, but has worked very hard for.
Photos courtesy of social media
