(Mechanicsburg) The cancellation of a lecture by gay actor and author Maulik Pancholy at a Pennsylvania junior high school sends a hurtful message to members of the LGBTQ+ community, state school leaders said.
The Cumberland Valley School District board voted unanimously Monday to cancel the actor’s conference previously scheduled for May 22 at Mountain View School. Mr Pancholy was to speak out about bullying.
Before the vote, a board member raised concerns about what he described as Mr. Pancholy’s activism and “lifestyle.” Some board members also pointed to the district’s policy of not hosting overtly political events, news outlets reported.
School district Superintendent Mark Blanchard and nine other leaders sent a letter to the board, faculty and staff Thursday saying Maulik Pancholy should have been allowed to attend.
They said they were not given “a real opportunity” to answer questions or give advice about the event, which they said was intended to reinforce the importance of equal treatment for all.
They added that the school board’s decision had “significant ramifications for our school community, particularly our LGBTQ+ students and staff.”
In a statement posted on social media this week, Pancholy said his visits to schools were intended to let young people know that they are all important and equal. “That’s the power of books. They develop empathy, Pancholy wrote. I wonder why a school board is so afraid of this. »
The board’s vote also drew criticism from several parents, students and community members, who called the decision “homophobic.”
Pancholy, 48, is an award-winning actor, notably for his roles in television shows 30 Rock And Weedsand as the voice of Baljeet in the Disney animated series Phineas & Ferb. He also wrote children’s books.