After much preparation, the 12-year-old's small scene turned into a big problem among school officials in Wheatland, Wyoming.
Located on the eastern Wyoming plains, Wheatland is a small farming and ranching community with about 3,500 residents.
There are few restaurants, no department stores — not even a local Walmart — and few performance venues besides Wheatland High School.
"Unless you’re super closed-minded, I don’t see why you would do that.”Drama coach Stephanie Bradley, who also attended the high school, challenged the decision.
“Most people in this part of Wyoming don’t come out early," Bradley said of LGBTQ+ teens on the state's rural plains.
Persons:
— Oliver Baez, ” Baez, Matthew Shepard, ”, Cassie Baez, Oliver, Lu Lay, John Weigel, hadn't, belittling, Baez, ” Weigel, Robert Daniel, ” Daniel, Erica Biggs, ” Biggs, Sara Burlingame, “, ” Burlingame, Melissa Rukavina, Stephanie Bradley, Bradley
Organizations:
University of Wyoming, Walmart, Wheatland High School, Platte County Players, Wyoming Equality, Hate, Gay and Lesbian Fund of Colorado, Prevention
Locations:
WHEATLAND, Wyo, Wheatland , Wyoming, Wheatland, Wyoming, . Wyoming, South Carolina, Platte, Cheyenne