Wasilla High School Bans Song by Gay Rock Legend

Freddie Mercury's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' deemed inappropriate
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted May 13, 2011 3:07 AM CDT
Updated May 15, 2011 6:44 PM CDT
Wasilla High School Bans Song Written by Gay Rock Legend
Queen lead singer Freddie Mercury rocks out in 1986.   (AP Photo/Marco Arndt)

An Alaska high school choir was up in arms after the principal banned a song for graduation because it was written by a gay rocker. Wasilla principal Dwight Probasco banned the 1975 Queen hit "Bohemian Rhapsody" from a graduation ceremony after complaints from parents about the sexual orientation of songwriter and lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury. “The whole thing was just ridiculous,” said a senior from Sarah Palin's hometown. “They’d played the song on the school intercom and we played it at prom. It’s a great song and the choir was really excited to be singing it. The senior class felt like it defined them."

Probasco has backed down since a student contacted a gay and lesbian organization in Anchorage for help. He has now agreed to allow an edited version of the song at graduation that doesn't include lyrics about a killing. Seniors believe the principal was worried about possible action from the ACLU, reports the Frontiersman. (More Freddie Mercury stories.)

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