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<\/p>\nOntario School Boards Pull Funding From High School\u2019s Gay Prom Musical: VIDEO<\/b>
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Two school boards in London, Ontario<\/a> have pulled their financial backing of a play based on the true story of a gay<\/a> student\u2019s fight to take his boyfriend to prom. <\/span><\/p>\n Prom Queen: The Musical<\/span><\/i> is based on the story of Marc Hall, who in 2002 won battle with the Durham Catholic School Board to take his boyfriend to the prom at a school in Oshawa, Ontario.<\/span><\/p>\n The play was chosen as this year\u2019s fall high school project play at the Grand Theatre in London.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n However, the London District Catholic School Board and the Thames Valley District School Board have pulled their funding \u2013 usually $15,000 per board \u2013 leaving a dent in the $250,000 budget. It is the first time the two boards haven\u2019t contributed to the annual play.<\/span><\/p>\n An online funding campaign<\/a> has already raised over $50,000 to address the shortfall.<\/p>\n CBC<\/b><\/a> reports:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThere are many things in the script that go against the culture and values of our schools,\u201d trustee Matt Reid, chair of the Thames Valley board, said Thursday morning. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI think the message in the story is very important. The issue is how you portray the facts of the story.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Reid also said the play\u2019s theme of LGBTQ rights isn\u2019t the issue, but rather the language in the script, and how the story portrays school boards, teachers and other adults in a negative light.<\/span><\/p>\n Hall, who spoke to CBC News from Calgary where he now works, said he was surprised a school board would pull funding. <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s about a community coming together, to stick up for yourself, to not allow discrimination, to love who you are.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n Both boards on Wednesday released the same statement within seconds of each other.\u00a0<\/span>It read:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cTogether, our school communities \u2013 principals, teachers, trustees, staff, students, parents \u2013 work very hard to ensure all students are supported and cared for, which is not reflected in the script.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The play\u2019s producer Mary Young Leckie said:<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMarc was a bit of a reluctant hero, he just wanted to go to prom. He wasn\u2019t a political rebel.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m really kind of sad that in 2018 school boards somehow think they can\u2019t support the story of a kid.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis is a story about gay<\/a> rights. When you come up against this really conservative reaction and defensive reaction, it surprises me, but it also tells me that this play is incredibly relevant. This is a story that people need to hear.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Delighted #ldnont<\/a> folks have raised enough cash to pay for “Prom Queen”‘s shortfall (school boards pulled 30K, we’ve raised 33K+ and counting). But at election time let’s make sure not to forget the appalling stunt pulled by the board. t.co\/9DjLvL2nFf<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mike P. Moffatt The post Ontario School Boards Pull Funding From High School\u2019s Gay Prom Musical: VIDEO<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.towleroad.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/prom-queen-the-musical.jpg\")
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(@MikePMoffatt) January 18, 2018<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n