The Cumberland Valley School District’s board in Pennsylvania voted 5-4 to allow gay actor Maulik Pancholy to speak against bullying at Mountain View Middle School on May 22. The speech was originally canceled on April 15 due to concerns about Pancholy’s “lifestyle” and activism. Some board members cited a policy against hosting overtly political events as a reason for the cancellation. However, community members, including more than a dozen students, spoke out against the decision, stating that it sent a hurtful message, particularly to the LGBTQ+ community. Superintendent Mark Blanchard and other district leaders also sent a letter expressing support for Pancholy’s speech.
Pancholy, a 48-year-old award-winning actor known for his roles on television shows like “30 Rock” and “Weeds,” as well as his work as the voice of Baljeet in the Disney series “Phineas & Ferb,” was scheduled to speak by the school’s leadership team as part of an annual educational experience for students. Despite concerns raised by some board members about not knowing the content of Pancholy’s speech, the district’s intention was to reinforce the importance of treating all people equally. Pancholy, who also serves on the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, has been an advocate for combatting bullying targeting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
Following the initial cancellation of his speech, Pancholy expressed gratitude for the community members who supported him and the students who spoke out against the decision. In a statement, he emphasized the need for representation in stories, noting that as a middle school student, he never saw himself represented and felt compelled to write his own novels featuring South Asian-American and LGBTQ+ characters. Pancholy’s mission in visiting schools is to let all young people know that they are seen, they matter, and representation is important. Despite the initial setback, Pancholy is looking forward to delivering his message of love, inclusion, respect, and belonging to the students of Mountain View Middle School in May.
