As the District gears up for its annual Pride Weekend celebrations, Wilson High School held its second annual school-wide Pride Day event, where Principal Pete Cahall publicly came out as gay, The Post reports.
“I want to say publicly for the first time because of your leadership, care and support that I am a proud gay man who just happens to be the principal of Wilson High School,” Cahall said. Cahall, reportedly shaking while giving his speech, also said that he’s “had to ‘hide in the shadows for the last 50 years’ but was inspired by his students to declare his sexual orientation openly,” according to the Post.
In five days, a group of hateful idiots parading under the guise of a “church” is planning to protest the NW high school for hosting an LGBTQ pride event, which makes Cahall’s announcement today all the more moving. Cahall, who was joined by Mayor Vince Gray, openly gay D.C. Councilmember David Catania (I-At Large), and others, was praised for coming out and encouraging the community to stand with Wilson’s students and faculty.
Lets all stand strong with Principal Pete Cahall & @wilsonhsdcps on Pride Day & this Monday for a peaceful protest.
— MurielBowser (@MurielBowser) June 4, 2014
Happy to stand with Principal Cahall as he comes out in front of his students at @Wilsonhsdcps pic.twitter.com/BeLv8k9lIH
— David Catania (@DavidCataniaDC) June 4, 2014
Supporting @Wilsonhsdcps Principal Cahill and students at #WilsonPride! @GLBTAffairsDC @dcpublicschools pic.twitter.com/u2dgohYVBM
— Vincent C. Gray (@mayorvincegray) June 4, 2014
Wow, Kudos to Pete & Wilson #TigerPride MT @maustermuhle At Pride Day at Wilson HS, Principal Pete Cahill just came out to the student body.
— David Grosso (@cmdgrosso) June 4, 2014
Update: Here’s Principal Pete Cahall’s full speech from this morning:
