I realize this is not about movies, specifically, but it is relevant to the entertainment industry in a broader sense, so I’m not getting completely off topic with my editorial. But, I feel like I have to write about this anyway.

For the uninformed, the principal at South Williamsport High School in Pennsylvania has cancelled an upcoming production of Spamalot because “homosexuality does not exist in the conservative South Williamsport community.” That brilliant statement comes from Principal Jesse Smith, who was later backed up more professionally by superintendent Mark Stamm who said “The drama program includes students from grades 7 – 12. The performances are open to the public and will include members of the community, families, and children of all ages. We want our performances to be appropriate for the student performers and audiences so that anyone participating or watching can enjoy all aspects of the show.”

Maybe they didn’t get the memo, but same-sex marriage was legalized in Pennsylvania as of May 20th, 2014. A May 2014 poll showed that 48% of Pennsylvanians wanted same-sex marriage to be legal, versus 44% against. I suppose South Williamsport consists solely of that 44%?

With regards to starting a family, same-sex couples have been able to do that since 2002. The problem here is that there are no laws on Pennsylvania’s books regarding actual equality. Yes, gays can now get married, and they can adopt children, but a half-assed attempt at protecting gays under a hate crime addendum to an eco-terrorism bill was struck down in 2008. Gays are not protected in Pennsylvania, despite being able to be married. There are no laws on the books protecting LGBT’s from discrimination in Pennsylvania.

This is important. Why? Do you think Jesse Smith would have been able to shut down a production of Ragtime because “black people do not exist in the conservative South Williamsport community”? No, of course not. Could you imagine the traction on those news stories? It’s important to note that even with the advances of gay marriage, which Pennsylvania now has, there still isn’t equality for gay Americans yet.

Specifically regarding this production of Spamalot, aside from a lot of hate mail (from people who probably don’t live in South Williamsport), nothing will happen. Some parents don’t care, others do. Some students don’t care, others do. One girl noted that there are definitely lesbians at her school, which most of America could figure out without her verification… but thanks anyway. At least we know that South Williamsport is progressive enough that gay students can safely be out.

So you can get mad about censorship, and how conservative Christians are stamping out free speech, or you can directly address the issue. Equal protection under the law. While the gay community is busy throwing each other weddings, it’s time to turn around and make sure there’s a defined protection under the law.

Just ask Mark Zmuda, who was fired from his job as Vice Principal of Eastside Catholic in Seattle (another state with gay marriage), who just wanted to marry his partner. Crystal Moore, a police chief in South Carolina, who was fired for being gay (later given her job back). Carla Hale, a gym teacher in Ohio, who was fired because she listed her partner in her mothers obituary. Ken Bencomo, a teacher in Calfornia, who was fired after a picture of him and his husband was featured in a newspaper article celebrating the defeat of Prop 8 by the Supreme Court.

Just a sampling of people who are fired, everyday, because they’re gay. Many of them are fired because of “immorality” clauses. It’s time to define gay as something that people just are, and not something immoral. It would have been a great message for the South Williamsport community to send, by standing up for their production of Spamalot, and not allowing one principal to define their community as a whole.