EDMOND, Okla. (KFOR) – Two University of Central Oklahoma students said state law played a role in their schools decision to not support a Shakespearean-inspired play with university resources. They decided to raise their own money to put the production on regardless.
“It’s really frustrating for me, at least as a queer artist, to see that my school is in fear to support me because of the way that Oklahoma law is set up,” UCO student Liberty Welch said.
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Welch and her classmate Maggie Lawson are juniors at UCO. They were both chosen to produce the Shakespearean inspired play “Boy My Greatness” this fall as part of their school theatre society. Or so they thought, until Tuesday morning.
The school decided not to support the play with their resources and the students said SB 796 played a role in that decision. That bill is now a law after this most recent legislative session. It says that no state money or resources can be used to support diversity, equity and inclusion. The play is set in the 1600’s and is about “boy players” or the people who played women in Shakespeare’s plays…