Bryce Dersham, giving his validictory speech from memory after principal cut his mic when he said

[pnwmom]

he was queer. (The principal snatched the written version off the podium.)

[Midnight Writer]

1. What a cowardly, dick move.

[George II]

2. Good for that guy who gave him another microphone, and hopefully that principle has already....

....lost his job.

[Warpy]

3. I hope Principal Thug is ashamed of himself

for invoking right wing cancel culture on such an inspirational speech.

One hopes he reconsiders his career choice.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

4. I'm not sure I buy into this particular storyline but it's a wonderful speech nonetheless

You cannot definitively see any such 'snatching', and the microphone is at a noticeably higher volume after it's replaced.

I'm guessing the mic replacement is all that was actually going on, but I could be wrong.

[pnwmom]

6. Why not? The principle hasn't denied taking away his written speech.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/27/nyregion/new-jersey-valedictorian-lgbtq-speech.html

Less than a minute into Bryce Dershem’s valedictorian speech on June 17, the microphone cut out. He had just told the audience at his New Jersey high school’s graduation ceremony that he came out as queer in his freshman year.

When he made that revelation, the principal, Robert M. Tull, went to the back of the stage and appeared to unplug some cords, a video from the ceremony shows.

Suddenly, Mr. Dershem, 18, was silenced. Mr. Tull walked onstage and took the microphone from its stand.

When the principal took the microphone, he also took Mr. Dershem’s prepared remarks.

Mr. Tull pointed to another copy of the speech on the podium that did not have any references to sexuality or mental health.

https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/high-school/2857104/

The school principal walked up to the podium to take Dershem's microphone and his written copy of the speech, according to video of the graduation.

"The principal, Dr. Tull, came up to the stage and he grabbed the paper that I brought and crumpled it in front of me in his hand," Dershem said. "And then he pointed to the speech he had written for me, effectively, and told me I was to say that and nothing else."

After he was given a new microphone, Dershem picked up right where he left off, reciting his speech from memory to cheers from the audience.

Robert Cloutier, Eastern Camden County Regional School District superintendent, wrote in an email to NBC10 that graduation speeches are expected to connect the speaker's educational experiences to an inclusive message about the future of all students in the graduating class and their guests.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

7. Because it doesn't make sense. I guess we'll eventually find out for sure, I'll leave it at that.

[pnwmom]

8. What doesn't make sense? The superintendent's statement was an attempt at a justification

for what the principal did.

And the principal did not deny removing the written speech from the podium.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

10. Okay, well I just watched the video and read the quick blurb

I was unconvinced from the visual evidence, but sounds like it's done deal, so ... as I said from the start, I could be wrong

I still don't quite get the point of turning off the microphone AND taking the microphone away, then giving it back.

Once you unplugged him, why take the mike as well?

It's also strange that the principal just happened to have a different copy to point him to, but perhaps he'd had to submit it ahead of time, and the principal had edited it and put it on the podium in advance.

Which suggests that the student was specifically told he was NOT to give the speech he wanted to give.

And while I personally think the speech was awesome, I can also see the argument that it was not an appropriate valedictory speech, and that he probably should've given the one that had been approved by the school.

Those sorts of speeches are traditionally not a 'free for all'.

High School isn't college.

That aside, I still like that he basically said 'fuck you' and said what he wanted.

[pnwmom]

12. Yes, he was told not to give that wonderful speech, and for no good reason,

so he went ahead anyway, and ignored the speech the principal wanted him to give.

[leftieNanner]

5. What a wonderful bright young person!

Intellect, kindness, and courage.

We need more of these.

They did an amazing job on that speech.

[Retired Engineer Bob]

9. So very courageous

Things have changed so much since my high school graduation, class of ‘92. Back then I thought I was alone with my orientation, one of 500 in my graduating class. Firmly wedged into the closet, with little or no thought of escape. Now married to my wonderful husband, retired after a great career. The genie is NOT going back in the bottle, TFG worshippers be damned.

[AZLD4Candidate]

11. I saw this on Yahoo News. The comments were mostly supportive

but the responses to the supportive comments were straight out of the conservative ne'er-do-well playbook of idiocy.

[mac2766]

14. Freedom of speech!

Unless you're going to say (or do) something that they (right wingers) disagree with.

I had a conversation with a good friend on Saturday. It was brief, but he got my point. I recently purchased a new pair of eye glasses. They happened to be the set that fit my big head, and they happened to be Nike brand. He asked if I was a fan of Colin Kaepernick. I said, I suppose, why? I can't remember the exact response but it was in regard to his actions during the national anthem. I responded "It's all about freedom of speech until someone says something that you (they) don't like". He shut up. He's a really great kid and a good electrician. His dad is a right winger, but only slightly. They're a really good family from what I can tell, but they do have their right leaning opinions.

The whole "freedom of speech" argument doesn't really make sense to me. The hypocrisy is so blatant.