School board may ban song honoring "cross-dressing prostitute who threw a brick at a police officer" - LGBTQ Nation

"A school board in Wisconsin will vote early next week on whether the school band is allowed to play a composition inspired by trans activist Marsha P. Johnson. While the composition has no lyrics, one school board member said that a piece that honors "a cross-dressing prostitute who threw a brick at a police officer" may violate school policy."

"Watertown High School's band director, Reid LaDew, said that he wanted students in the Watertown Wind Symphony to prepare the piece and play it at the May 18 spring concert, both because it would "foster empathy, cultural awareness, and respect for the stories and struggles that shape our shared history" and because it's a complicated composition that will challenge some of the older students."

"The school district adopted a "controversial issues policy" last fall. Such policies are usually an attempt by the administration to censor discussions of topics that could result in parental complaints. Usually, LGBTQ+ issues are targeted by such policies because many parents fear their children will learn that LGBTQ+ people exist before they turn 18, something they believe could turn their kids gay or trans."

"To comply with the policy, LaDew sent a letter home to parents about the composition, saying that the point of learning it is "not to provoke controversy, but to deepen students' understanding of how music reflects the diverse experiences of humanity." Wisconsin Public Radio reports that, initially, three families opted to have their children not play the piece, but in the end, only one was kept from performing it."

A Wisconsin school board will vote early next week on whether a school band may play a composition inspired by trans activist Marsha P. Johnson. The piece has no lyrics and was written in 2019 by composer Omar Thomas. It has been performed by school bands and orchestras across the country. A band director wants students to prepare and perform it at a spring concert to foster empathy, cultural awareness, respect for shared history, and musical challenge. The district adopted a controversial issues policy intended to limit topics that could trigger parental complaints, often targeting LGBTQ+ issues. The director notified parents that the goal is deepening understanding of how music reflects diverse human experiences. Initially, three families opted out, and later only one child was kept from performing.

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