The Nebraska School Activities Association is attempting to censor high school student Michael Barth, the state's Class C champion in poetry, from performing gender identity poetry on live TV. The NSAA has deemed it inappropriate for Michael to discuss social issues in any way. We call on the NSAA to stop censoring Michael Barth and allow him to perform his poetry piece.
Why is this important?
From the OWH:
The Nebraska School Activities Association has asked a state champion from its speech contest to change the content of his poem before recording it for a television program.
The student won a first place medal at the state high school speech tournament last week reciting poems about gender identity.
The association, however, has deemed the poems too controversial to be featured in a public TV broadcast highlighting the best performers at the competition.
Michael Barth of Gordon-Rushville High School performed poems titled "Swingset" and "Same Love," according to Rhonda Blanford-Green, executive director of the Nebraska School Activities Association.
