Gay Actor’s Anti-Bullying Talk Cancelled Over “Lifestyle”

Today reports:

Openly gay actor Maulik Pancholy was disinvited from speaking at a middle school anti-bullying assembly after concerns were raised about his political activism and what two school board members called his “lifestyle.”

Pancholy’s scheduled appearance at Mountain View Middle School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was unanimously overturned by the district’s school board in a public meeting on April 15.

“If you research this individual, he labels himself as an activist, he is proud of his lifestyle and I don’t think that should be imposed upon our students at any age,” board member Bud Shaffner said at the meeting.

Read the full article. Below, see an interview about Pancholy’s recent coming out novel, The Best At It. On 30 Rock, Pancholy played Alec Baldwin’s office assistant.

Openly gay actor Maulik Pancholy was disinvited from speaking at a middle school anti-bullying assembly after concerns were raised about his political activism and what two school board members called his “lifestyle.” https://t.co/PflVoAdkNG

— NBC Out (@NBCOUT) April 17, 2024