Hip, hip, hooray for Valley High School of West Des Moines. The school has made a bold decision to let students perform "The Laramie Project," a play based on Matthew Shepard, a University of Wyoming student who was savagely murdered because he was gay. The school's progressive move was made over the objection of some of the Valley High parents who are concerned that the play discusses homosexuality, uses profanity and contains violence. They have scheduled a meeting for today to express their concerns to the school board. These parents certainly have the right to express those concerns but in this case they need to back off and trust the school officials because they obviously know what they're doing.

Now, let me clarify that I'm not a parent but I have had a fair amount of experience working with young people as an instructor and coach at both the high school and college level. I'm sure it's not easy to raise children. I also know that in this day and age they grow up a lot faster than parents may want them to. Television and popular culture have exposed them to a bit more sex, violence and swearing than we heard and saw growing up. In other words, whether we as adults are willing to admit it, the content of a play like the "The Laramie Project" shouldn't come as a shock to them.

If anything should be considered shocking, it's the horrible true story that the play is based on, a genuine hate crime. Shepard was brutally beaten and left to die on the outskirts of Laramie, Wyo., in 1998. His killers admitted they attacked him because he was gay. He died several days later. Valley High officials say the play teaches tolerance and acceptance of others and hope it will encourage families to discuss diversity, hate crimes and whether such behavior is acceptable. It's precisely the type of discussion high school student should be having.

"It is edgy, but it is for a mature audience," Phyllis Staplin, West Des Moines' director of curriculum, told the Associated Press. "There is no doubt about it. This is providing a teaching opportunity for diversity and acceptance."

However, School Board President Deb Thomas, while supporting the subject matter, expressed concerns about the violence and language in the play which she says should be toned down. She is dead wrong. The "The Laramie Project" was written this way for a reason. To tamper with the author's intent or sanitize it in any way would compromise the integrity of the play. And if you tone down this play, exactly where does the editing stop? Leave it alone and let the students get to work.

Some 90 students signed up to audition for the play, so clearly they are engaged. If a student or their family is offended by the material, they don't have to try out. And if members of the community are offended, they can stay home rather than see it, which would be a real shame. As Thomas stated, the play is relevant to what happens in high schools because some students are treated with hatred because they are viewed as being different than others.

It's time to stop pretending that homosexuality doesn't exist in high schools. Gay students need to be accepted for who they are and the sooner that teenagers are exposed to this idea, the fewer hate crimes we are likely to hear about in the future.

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