Pennsylvania high school is forced to apologize after its LGBT club hosted a drag show

Pennsylvania high school is forced to apologize after an LGBT club staged a drag show on school property: Veteran French teacher is placed on leave for helping organize the event

  • The event was pitched to students at Hempfield High School as a drag show
  • It’s not clear if students required permission slips in order to attend the show
  • A nine year veteran French teacher at the school pending a full investigation
  • The school district said that those found responsible to organizing the show will be held accountable 

Officials at a high school in Pennsylvania were forced to apologize and place a veteran French teacher on leave after the school’s LGBT club staged a drag show event on school grounds last week.

According to a statement from the Hempfield School District, the unsanctioned event took place after school on April 25. The statement said the district was treating the event as a ‘serious situation.’

“First and foremost, the administration team apologizes to students, parents, and the community on behalf of those involved in this event,” the statement said. “We are appalled at what took place and in no way condone this type of activity in our schools. Neither the dress of the invited guests nor the performance was appropriate in our school setting.” 

The school is located in Salunga-Landisville, around 80 miles west of Philadelphia.  

For the event, the school hosted dancers dressed in drag performing raunchy routines. 

The apology statement was issued after video of the performance made it onto social media. 

The event was held after school on April 25. It has not been confirmed if students needed permission slips to attend

The incident first became public knowledge following a Facebook post in a Landisville community group

The incident first became public knowledge following a Facebook post in a Landisville community group

As a result of the show, a member of the school’s staff was placed on administrative leave. 

The teacher was named by Lancaster Online as French teacher Kelly Tyson, who also serves as the LGBT club’s adviser.

The district is also conducting an official investigation into the event, the statement said. 

A statement from the school district said that those responsible for the event would be held accountable

A statement from the school district said that those responsible for the event would be held accountable

According to the clubs and extra curricular activities list on the Hempfield High School website, the Gay Sexuality Alliance club is advised by Tyson and Carla Vicidomini.

Tyson, a graduate of the Millersville University of Pennsylvania, has taught in the Hempfield School District since 2013, according to her LinkedIn page. 

The club is described as bringing ‘together LGBTQIA+ and straight students to support each other, provide a safe place to socialize, and work together to improve school climate for all students, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, or identity expression.’ 

The event featured professional dancers who wore formfitting clothing. It was pitched to students as a drag show

The event featured professional dancers who wore formfitting clothing. It was pitched to students as a drag show

Republican State Senator Ryan Aument weighed in on the event saying that he had been regular contact with the school district over the investigation

Republican State Senator Ryan Aument weighed in on the event saying that he had been regular contact with the school district over the investigation

The school district said that those responsible for the event will be held accountable. 

The event was promoted to the public as a drag show, reports Harrisburg 100.  The website also reported that no permission slips were required for students to attend the performance. 

Republican State Senator Ryan Aument weighed in on the event saying that he had been regular contact with the school district over the investigation. 

In a statement, Aument said, ‘I spoke twice today via phone with Hempfield School District Superintendent Mike Bromirski. I appreciate his willingness to update me and answer my questions.’ 

Aument is sponsoring a bill that seeks to alert parents to the presence of sexually explicit materials in schools, reports Lancaster Online.  

The event was first brought to the attention of school officials thanks to a Facebook post in a Landisville community group. 

The post, written by a woman named Melissa Hilt, said that her outrage was not about a vendetta against the LGBT community but rather against students wearing form-fitting clothes and the exposing of a buttocks on the school’s campus. 

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk