Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania – A school district in Pennsylvania canceled a scheduled appearance by actor and children's book author Maulik Pancholy, citing concerns about what district leaders called his activism and “lifestyle.”
Pancholy, who is gay, was scheduled to speak against bullying at a May 22 rally at Mountain View Middle School in Cumberland County. However, the district's school board met Monday night after some members expressed concerns and others pointed to the district's policy of not hosting overtly political events, according to media reports. It is said that a unanimous decision was made to cancel his lecture. The policy was enacted after the district was criticized for hosting a rally for Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Pancholy, 48, is an award-winning actor for his roles on TV shows “30 Rock'' and “Weeds,'' as well as the voice of Baljeet in the Disney animated series “Phineas and Ferb.'' He also writes children's books and was appointed by then-President Barack Obama to the President's Advisory Council on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in 2014, where he co-founded the Campaign to Combat AAPI Bullying. did.
Pancholy's appearance was planned by the school's instructional team, which plans author presentations each year as a “unique educational experience for students,” the district said. .
Discussing his appearance at Monday night's meeting, school board members said they were unsure what Pancholy's talk would be about, but one board member said Pancholy was unsure of the possibilities it would entail. “I don't want to take the risk,” one said.
“When you research this guy, he labels himself an activist,” Bud Schaffner said, according to PennLive. “He takes pride in his lifestyle, and I don't think that should be forced on his students at any age.”
The Associated Press sent an email to Pancholy's spokesperson Thursday afternoon.
The board's vote drew criticism from several parents, students and community members who called the decision “homophobic.” Some people have started an online petition calling for Pancholi to be reinstated.
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