Principal cuts the mic when valedictorian gives speech about coming out By Alyssa Lukpat New York Times June 27, 2021 — 5:42pm Text size Copy shortlink: Less than a minute into Bryce Dershem's valedictorian speech 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, Principal Robert Tull went to the back of the stage and appeared to unplug some cords, a video from the ceremony shows. Suddenly, Dershem, 18, was silenced. Tull walked onstage and took the microphone from its stand.