A speech by a gay actor that was initially canceled due to his “lifestyle” has been reinstated at a Pennsylvania school following community outcry.
The board of the Cumberland Valley School District made a close decision with a vote of 5-4 on Wednesday night. Their decision was to allow Maulik Pancholy, a children’s book author who identifies as gay, to speak against bullying during an upcoming assembly at Mountain View Middle School on May 22. The board took into account the feedback from residents, including the valuable input of over a dozen students.
On April 15, the board made a unanimous decision to cancel Pancholy’s talk. One of the board members expressed concerns about the actor’s activism and “lifestyle.” Additionally, some board members mentioned that the district had implemented a policy against hosting overtly political events following criticism for hosting a Donald Trump rally during his 2016 presidential campaign.
The cancellation of the speech received criticism from some community members who believed it was a poor decision that conveyed a hurtful message, particularly to the LGBTQ+ community. Superintendent Mark Blanchard and other district leaders expressed their opinion in a letter addressed to the board, faculty, and staff, stating that Pancholy’s speech should have been permitted.
According to education officials, they were not provided with a genuine chance by the board to respond to inquiries or offer guidance regarding the event. The officials emphasized that the purpose of the event was to emphasize the significance of treating all individuals equally.
Pancholy, who is 48 years old, is a highly acclaimed actor known for his exceptional performances in popular television shows like “30 Rock” and “Weeds.” Additionally, he has made a mark as the voice of Baljeet in the Disney animated series “Phineas & Ferb.” Pancholy’s versatile talents extend beyond acting, as he has also ventured into writing children’s books. In recognition of his contributions, former President Barack Obama appointed him to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in 2014. During his tenure, he co-founded a campaign aimed at addressing and combating AAPI bullying.
The school’s leadership team scheduled Pancholy’s appearance as part of their annual tradition of inviting authors to provide a unique educational experience for students, as reported by the district.
During the April 15 meeting, the school board members expressed their uncertainty about the topic of Pancholy’s discussion. One member even stated that he was unwilling to take the chance of what it could possibly involve.
Bud Shaffner expressed his opinion about the individual, stating that he identifies as an activist. According to Pennlive, Shaffner believes that the individual’s lifestyle should not be forced upon students, regardless of their age.
On Thursday, the Associated Press reached out to Pancholy’s publicists to seek their comment on the board’s decision to reverse itself.
Pancholy expressed his thoughts on social media following the board vote, stating that during his time in middle school, he never came across any stories that represented him or his background. He mentioned the lack of books featuring South Asian-American or LGBTQ+ characters, stating that they simply did not exist. Even years later, when he began writing his own novels, he struggled to find these types of stories.
Pancholy expressed that his motivation for writing his books stemmed from the importance of representation. He firmly believes that representation matters.
According to Pancholy, his school visits have a purpose of making sure that all young people feel acknowledged and valued. He wants to send a message to them that they are seen and that they truly matter.
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