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Meredith Elementary in South Philadelphia amends Pride celebration after conservative backlash

More police will be present at the celebration. The X account LibsofTikTok, with over 4 million followers, had blasted Meredith's Pride plans.

A spectator’s shoes along Walnut Street as the Pride March and Festival kicks off with a march from Washington Square Sunday, June 2, 2024, with the theme, “Be You.”
A spectator’s shoes along Walnut Street as the Pride March and Festival kicks off with a march from Washington Square Sunday, June 2, 2024, with the theme, “Be You.”Read moreTom Gralish / Staff Photographer

A South Philadelphia school’s Pride Day event is being amended after a prominent conservative social media account put Meredith Elementary’s celebration on blast on social media.

Meredith Elementary, in Queen Village, celebrates Pride Month with a day of activities, typically culminating in all students and staff walking the perimeter of the school, waving flags.

Principal Nina Brevard, in a letter sent to families Monday, said the parade route would be shifted to the school yard and inside the building, a decision made by the school’s Pride Committee and administration, as well as Philadelphia School District leadership.

“While we remain committed to supporting an inclusive and respectful school environment, the safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our top priority,” Brevard wrote. “This decision was made to ensure a positive and safe experience for all members of our school community.”

The district’s Office of School Safety will also “increase the presence of school safety officers in collaboration with the Philadelphia Police Department,” Brevard wrote.

Family members who had planned to come view and cheer in the parade are still permitted to do so, the principal said, but were asked to stay on the building perimeter.

“Despite this shift, we still anticipate a day of celebration and inclusion,” Brevard wrote, adding that all Pride Day events are not mandatory, and parents can opt their children out.

The conservative social media account LibsofTikTok, which has 4.7 million followers, posted about the Meredith event on Sunday.

Meredith, the account said, is holding a Pride parade “for kindergarteners. Little kids will be given pride stickers and pronoun pins to wear by staff to march for trans pride.”

The account did not note that those students whose parents wanted them opted out won’t be participating.

LibsofTikTok suggested supporters to call the school to voice displeasure. A conservative writer also tagged the school district, saying “Philadelphia voters did not vote for this. Pull the program. Fire the principal.”

Philadelphia has been a leader in rights for LGBTQ students; its groundbreaking policy 252 was among the first in the U.S. requiring school use gender-neutral language whenever possible and allowing students the right to use their preferred names and pronouns without parental approval or evidence of medical transition. It also permits students to participate on sports teams that match their gender identity.