The symphonic jazz choir at Alaska's Wasilla High School had been rehearsing all year for a performance of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody" that they were to perform at this year's graduation ceremony. Then the kids got word that at least one parent had complained to Wasilla High's principal, Dwight Probasco (who people are saying resembles Elton John, though I would say more like Philip Seymour Hoffman), that the song was inappropriate for the ceremony since Queen's lead singer, the late Freddie Mercury, was bisexual. So the performance was called off. Seriously? You betcha.
Senior Rachel Clark summed up the absurdity of the situation:
"The whole thing was ridiculous. They'd played the song on the school intercom and we played it at prom. It's a great song and the choir was really excited to be singing it. And the senior class felt like it defined them."
Perhaps the offended parent had been influenced by an organization called Love God's Way, which on its website lists "gay" bands to beware of, as well as approved "safe" bands. Examples of scary "gay" bands include Lady Gaga (tricks girls into lesbianism), Slipknot (make-up), Vampire Weekend, Toby Keith (cowboy), and Ghostface Killah (?). "Safe" bands include Cyndi Lauper, Creed, Evanescence, Cheap Trick, and Blondie. Riiight.
Choir member Casey Hight was understandably pissed off at this turn of events, and felt compelled to contact a gay and lesbian support organization in Anchorage. They directed her to an attorney at the ACLU, and, the next thing you know, Principal Probasco (most likely fearing a kerfuffle with the ACLU) did the right thing and reneged on his ban. The only stipulation is that the kids now can't sing that "just killed a man" lyric in the song, which is also ridiculous. Hight said, "I felt like the school was discriminating for sexual orientation and I felt it was wrong. It's so stupid because there's nothing sexual in the song. There aren't even any cuss words." I "refudiate" this whole thing.
