High School Revokes Theatre Role from Trans Male Student

by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder

It is being reported that a Texas high school has revoked a role in an upcoming production of ‘Oklahoma’ from a trans male student citing a policy that states students can only be cast in roles that were the same gender they were assigned at birth.

Earlier this Fall, Max Hightower was thrilled that he had been cast in a male role(Ali Hakem) in the Sherman High School’s upcoming production of the Rodgers & Hammerstein classic. But just days later, the principal called Max’s father to explain that they were revoking the role due to this new policy.

"I mean they didn't even try to jazz it up when they called me,” Max’s father, Phillip, told local news. “it was, max isn't a boy essentially, so max can't have this role. And you know you never forget something like that.”

The school, which is located outside of Dallas, also announced that the show will be delayed until January to allow further time to review the material over concerns it includes “mature adult themes, profane language and sexual content.”

Additionally, the school stated that “there is no policy on how students are assigned to roles, but for this production, the gender of the role as identified in the script will be used for casting. This may not apply to future productions.”

While Phillip expected his son to be devastated over the decision, he was surprised to see that’s not the case. “I expected him to be crying, but no, Max is a fighter,” Hightower said.

My Take

First and foremost, I want to commend Max and congratulate him on landing the lead role in a high school theatre production, which is no small feat. And it’s awesome to see that he has such a strong family support system around him. I also want to commend the theatre staff at Sherman High School who appear to truly value inclusivity in their department. I wish every school did the same. And I wish that sentiment applied to the entire Sherman High School community, but apparently it doesn’t.

This is another example of the sweeping anti-trans movement in the state of Texas, home to one of the largest trans populations in the country. When no policy exists that discriminates against the trans community, school and local governments are quick to create them.

Keep in mind that, as of March 2023, Texas has more anti-transgender legislation filed this session than any other state, with 57 bills.

Among the legislation already signed into law is the ban of gender-affirming care for Texans under 18 and restricted trans high school students from playing school sports that align with their gender identity.

Other bills on the table to be voted into law by the right-wing legislature involve college athletes to compete on a team that aligns with sex assigned at birth, regardless of gender identity. Another would would require a person's sex at birth to be included on birth certificates and would limit the option for minors to update their documents to match their gender identity.

Some of the bills would change the statute of limitations on health care liability claims involving certain gender modification drugs. Others seek to expand the definition of a sexually oriented business to include establishments that present drag shows and prohibit such performances if they're on public property or in a location where a minor could be present.

It would seem that politicians are doing everything they can to make life as hard as possible for the TX trans community, and now they’re coming for the theatre.

It should be noted that according to the licensing materials for '“Oklahoma!”, Concord Theatricals does not list any casting requirements when it comes to gender. It does however include language that promotes diverse casting.

And while Concord and other licensing houses can certainly make certain rules about casting and other aspects to the show, I don’t believe they have the power to supersede what Sherman High School officials have done here.

I also think the reasoning the school is using to delay the show is bullshit. It also seems like they are picking how their enforce this “policy” based on whether a trans student is involved in the production.

But I’m glad to hear that Max and his family are going to fight this decision and I hope Max will be in reinstated in the role.

UPDATE: (11/7/23) - A petition is being circulated that is demanding that Max be reinstated in the role. Here is the link if you are interested in signing it.

This is a developing story and I will update it with new information as it becomes available.