Transgender Student at Texas High School Removed from Lead Role in "Oklahoma!" Due to New Gender Casting Policy

Texas school's decision to enforce gender-based casting in its production of "Oklahoma!" affects about a dozen students, sparking outrage among parents; family of lead actor plans appeal.

Max Hightower, a transgender student at Sherman High School in Texas, was stripped of his lead role in the school's production of 'Oklahoma!' due to a new policy stating students can only be cast in roles that align with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Approximately a dozen students, including non-binary and cisgender students, were affected by this policy, causing backlash from parents and the local community.
The family of Max Hightower is planning to appeal the decision at an upcoming school board meeting.
Despite statements from the school claiming that the policy was not blanket, several parents contest that the rules were changed specifically following Max's casting in a lead role, suspecting a complaint led to the policy change.
The school district also postponed the show after stating that they learned about 'mature adult themes, profane language, and sexual content' in the show, a rationale met with skepticism by parents familiar with the content of 'Oklahoma!'.
This incident occurs amidst Texas' wider political climate where more than 140 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced this year, including restrictions to access to gender-affirming care.