Major Queer Play Abruptly Canceled by Texas High School with Little Explanation

A production of a significant queer play scheduled for next spring at a Texas high school will not go on, parents were informed on Friday. "A Keller high school production of 'The Laramie Project '– a play about the aftermath of the 1998 murder of a gay student in Wyoming – was canceled," reports The Dallas Morning News.

Timber Creek High School parents received an email Friday night saying that students would no longer perform the show this spring. The email did not provide an explanation. Community members are now rallying to reinstate the production, launching an online petition that has received more than 1,300 signatures so far.

"This play is a poignant depiction of queer history," the petition reads. "By banning this play, we are not only suppressing an important piece of history but also denying our students a chance to understand and empathize with the struggles faced by the LGBTQ+ community. ... It's essential that our education system works towards creating awareness about these issues rather than shying away from them."

School leaders in a brief email said they are "working on developing an alternative production opportunity for our students.

"We understand that it is unusual for a production change like this to take place. Students will still have an opportunity to read, discuss, and analyze the play during the school day," they wrote.

District spokesman Bryce Nieman said in a statement that the decision was "made by many stakeholders."

"The decision to move forward with another production at Timber Creek High School was based on the desire to provide a performance similar to the ones that have created much excitement from the community, like this year's Keller ISD musical productions of 'Mary Poppins' and 'White Christmas,'" Nieman wrote in an email.

"The Laramie Project," which is often performed in high schools across the country, explores the community's reaction to the murder of Matthew Shepard, a gay 21-year-old University of Wyoming student who was attacked, tied to a fence in a field and left to die. His death became symbolic of anti-queer violence and led to changes in legislation throughout the country.

But, the Morning News adds, Judy Shepard, Matthew's mother and president of the Matthew Shepard Foundation, said she's seen a spike in attempts to cancel productions of the show in recent years.

"My heart is broken when people still refuse to see how important this work is," she said.

Shepard said the play can hold particular resonance for high schoolers, who are only a few years younger than her son was when he died.

"It might scare some kids. And it might wake some kids up. And it might make kids want to make change – all of those things. And they have the power to do it," she added.

The Morning News spoke with Mary Anne Weatherred, whose son was supposed to perform in the production, who said she's concerned about a pattern of anti-LGBTQ decisions in Keller.

If people don't agree with the message of the show, she said, then they shouldn't come watch it. "But they don't need to take it away from the kids," she said.

"Keller school trustees voted last year to establish rules stating that district employees 'shall not promote, encourage, or require the use of pronouns that are inconsistent with a student's or other person's biological sex.' This means someone could intentionally use the wrong pronouns when referring to a transgender or nonbinary child," the Morning News reports.

"Before that, the school board approved a policy prohibiting library books across all grade levels that include the discussion of gender fluidity."