Pennsylvania Teachers Sue School District Over Pride Sign Ban in Classrooms

Pennsylvania teachers have filed a proposed class-action lawsuit after being ordered to remove Pride signs and other LGBTQ-related displays from their classrooms in the Hollidaysburg Area School District. The federal complaint argues the district's policy unlawfully singles out speech involving sexual orientation and gender identity.

School board members approved Policy 321.1 in October 2025, and, as reported by WJAC, it bars classroom displays tied to sexual orientation or gender identity, including flags, posters and signs. The lawsuit alleges administrators enforced those restrictions by directing educators to remove Pride-themed materials while allowing comparable religious expression to remain.

Teachers identified in court filings as Jane Doe and Jane Roe contend the policy violates the First Amendment, the Equal Protection Clause and Title IX. They are proceeding anonymously, saying disclosure of their identities could expose them to harm.

Examples included in the complaint extend beyond Pride flags. The filing alleges administrators ordered the removal of rainbow-colored classroom signs, a Pennsylvania Department of Education nondiscrimination poster and other materials while Christian displays, Bible verses and religious messaging remained visible elsewhere in district buildings.

The educators are asking a federal judge to block enforcement of the policy, declare it unconstitutional, award damages exceeding $150,000 for each plaintiff and require LGBTQ sensitivity training for district employees and school board members. They also want the lawsuit certified as a class action covering other workers affected by the policy.

District leaders dispute the allegations. Superintendent Curtis Whitesel said the teachers were not subjected to employment discrimination and maintained public schools have the authority to regulate classroom speech and décor.

The lawsuit has not yet been tested in court, and the defendants had not filed a formal response when the complaint became public. Early rulings in the federal case will determine whether the challenge proceeds as a class action or remains limited to the two teachers.