After major controversy over adding October as Gay and Lesbian history month last year, the Philadelphia School District has succumbed to anti-gay pressure. Earlier this month, the school district announced that instead of sticking with their decision to keep Gay and Lesbian history month on the calendar, they have decided to remove all recognition months, including Black History Month and Hispanic and Asian Pacific Islander Heritage months.

According to **this article** on philly.com, the school district feels it wasn’t prepared for the fallout they received from parents and community members about their decision. They claim this decision will not effect the actual curriculum in the schools, as quoted from the philly.com article “Removal from the calendar has no effect on curriculum, Cummings said. Furthermore, Black History Month, as well as gay history events, will continue to be held in schools.”

What do you think of the school districts decision to remove all recognition months from its calendar?

How can we support LGBT students in the Philadelphia school system, given the anti-gay sentiment they have witnessed over this issue?