Results: Trans student kicked out of lead role of high school production of 'Oklahoma!' over gender policy

A Texas student who identifies as a transgender male was kicked out of the lead role of his high school musical after his principal introduced a new gender casting policy. Max Hightower, a senior at Sherman High School, learned just last month that he landed the starring male role in the school's production of "Oklahoma!" About two weeks later, his family was notified by the school's principal of a new policy about casting by gender and Hightower, as well as other students, lost their roles in the production. "And [he] said we're instituting a new policy where only males can play males, and only females can play females," Max's father, Phillip Hightower, told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth. Do you agree with the principal's policy that only males can play males in a theatre production, and only females can play females?

Following the controversy, the Sherman Independent School District said the performance of "Oklahoma!" will be under review and postponed to a later date to some time after January 15, 2024. The district explained that the production was under review because it "contained mature adult themes, profane language, and sexual content." "Unfortunately, all aspects of the production need to be reviewed, including content, stage production/props, and casting to ensure that the production is appropriate for the high school stage," the statement said. Set in farm country outside the town of Claremore, Indian Territory, in 1906, Oklahoma! tells the story of farm girl Laurey Williams and her courtship by two rival suitors, cowboy Curly McLain and the sinister and frightening farmhand Jud Fry. If you have seen or know about the musical, do you think it is appropriate for a high school production?