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A high school valedictorian in New Jersey had his microphone cut after he went off-script to talk about his queer identity and battle with anorexia during his graduation speech.
Bryce Dershem, 18, took to the podium in a rainbow flag robe to deliver his address at Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees last week.
Dersham and high school administrators had purportedly agreed upon a set speech prior to the event, but the valedictorian decided to go off-message after making his way onto the stage.
'After I came out as queer in freshman year I felt so alone,' Dersham began. 'I didn't know who to turn to for support.'
Video recorded by Dersham's dad shows the school principal, Dr. Robert Tull, seemingly pull a cord from the sound system, effectively silencing the teen's microphone.
Tull can then be seen coming up onto the stage and taking a typed copy of Dersham's speech out of his hands.
However, the crowd can be heard cheering in support of the valedictorian, before a back-up microphone was handed to him by another staff member and he continued on with his speech.
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Bryce Dershem, 18, took to the podium in a rainbow flag robe to deliver his address at Eastern Regional High School in Voorhees last week - before his mic was suddenly cut off
