In a move that has ignited controversy and allegations of homophobia, the Cumberland Valley School District in Pennsylvania unanimously voted to cancel an anti-bullying assembly featuring actor and author Maulik Pancholy. Pancholy, known for his roles on “30 Rock” and his advocacy work, had been slated to address students at Mountain View Middle School on May 22, focusing on empathy and the importance of celebrating differences.
During a public school board meeting, board member Bud Shaffner expressed reservations about Pancholy’s visit, stating, “He is proud of his lifestyle and I don’t think that should be imposed upon our students, at any age.” The cancellation decision did not emerge from Pancholy’s proposed anti-bullying content but from his personal identity as an openly gay man and his outspoken nature on diversity and inclusion.
The incident quickly prompted criticism from various quarters, with detractors arguing that the cancellation sends a negative message to LGBTQ+ students and those facing bullying. Pancholy, taking to his Instagram, expressed his viewpoint on the matter, saying, “When I visit schools, my ‘activism’ is to let all young people know that they’re seen. To let them know that they matter. When I talk about the characters in my books feeling ‘different,’ I’m always surprised by how many young people raise their hands – regardless of their identities and backgrounds – wanting to share about the ways in which they, too, feel different.”
The board’s decision also sparked action within the community. Former parent Trisha Comstock initiated a Change.org petition to reinstate the assembly, and students spoke out against the board’s action. Brooke Ryerson, a former student and member of the LGBTQ community, stated her intent to attend the next board meeting to express disappointment in the decision, noting that “It was going to be an assembly about empathy and anti-bullying.”
Tony Conte, another former student, penned an open letter on Facebook, reflecting on his own struggles as a closeted gay teen and suggesting that a presentation like Pancholy’s “could have saved a life, like the life of my friend.”
The school board’s rationale also involved a policy against hosting overtly political events, a policy put in place following a Donald Trump rally hosted within the district during the 2016 presidential campaign. This rationale, however, was met with skepticism by many who saw the board members’ concerns as more focused on Pancholy’s sexual identity than the content of his message. Board member Kelly Potteiger highlighted anxieties about Pancholy discussing his children’s book, “The Best at It,” which features a gay Indian American boy, saying, “But it’s him speaking about it.”
On the institutional level, leaders within the Cumberland Valley School District, including Superintendent Mark Blanchard, voiced their “disappointment” at the school board’s decision. A letter signed by them stated that the board’s statements reduced Pancholy’s personhood to a single aspect and discredited his ability to deliver a message against bullying and hate.
Relevant articles:
– Central PA School board cancels an anti-bullying assembly by 30 Rock star Maulik Pancholy because he is gay
– Pennsylvania School Board Cancels Gay ‘30 Rock’ Actor’s Talk, TODAY, Thu, 18 Apr 2024 23:47:00 GMT
– Pennsylvania school district cancels actor’s speech over his activism and ‘lifestyle’, The Associated Press, Thu, 18 Apr 2024 23:40:00 GMT
– Pennsylvania school board cancels gay actor’s upcoming anti-bullying talk, citing his ‘lifestyle’, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Thu, 18 Apr 2024 17:43:57 GMT