{"id":427421,"date":"2026-08-08T15:26:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/427421\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:26:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:26:12","slug":"oakland-school-to-remove-pride-flags-from-classrooms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/427421\/","title":{"rendered":"Oakland school to remove Pride flags from classrooms"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Bay Area Catholic school is pulling Pride flags from campus<\/a>, and some parents and community members are cheering the move<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Bishop O\u2019Dowd High School in Oakland announced plans to replace the Pride and Progress flags <\/a>that had been displayed in classrooms with a school-created emblem as students return for the 2026-2027 school year.<\/p>\n

Bishop O\u2019Dowd High School in Oakland will no longer display Pride or Progress flags on campus as the Catholic school begins the 2026-27 school year. Bishop O’Dowd High School<\/p>\n

The alumni account urged members of the school community to \u201crespectfully\u201d email Walsh. Bishop O’Dowd High School<\/p>\n

President Kim Walsh says the new \u201cInclusive O\u201d symbol affirms the school\u2019s support for LGBTQ+ students, families, faculty and staff. Facebook\/Bishop O’Dowd High School<\/p>\n

The new \u201cInclusive O\u201d features a large letter \u201cO\u201d splashed with colors from the Pride and Progress flag.<\/p>\n

School President Kim Walsh said Wednesday that the symbol reflects the school\u2019s commitment to every member of its community, including LGBTQ+ students, families, faculty and staff<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The decision comes after the flags became a \u201clightning rod\u201d at the Catholic school last year, prompting school leaders to spend a year consulting with students and community members about how to handle the issue.<\/p>\n

Supporters say the new approach gives Bishop O\u2019Dowd something the Pride flags could not: a symbol that belongs specifically to the school.<\/p>\n

Walsh said the yearlong discussions ultimately led to the creation of the \u201cInclusive O.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pope Leo XIV delivers the Angelus prayer from the entrance of the Apostolic Building in Castel Gandolfo. Evandro Inetti\/ZUMA Press Wire \/ SplashNews.com<\/p>\n

Rather than displaying outside political or social imagery, the school is using its own identity to represent students, according to the supporters described in the school community.<\/p>\n

Some parents and community members also believe the change better reflects traditional Catholic teachings.<\/p>\n

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And others see the move as a way to promote unity, giving the entire student body one school-specific symbol instead of appearing to favor particular causes.<\/p>\n

Walsh said the yearlong discussions ultimately led to the creation of the \u201cInclusive O,\u201d which she described as a symbol \u201cthat belongs uniquely to O\u2019Dowd, one that we define.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post argued that removing the flags \u201cdirectly affects the LGBTQ+ population of the school by removing pieces of representation.\u201d Bishop O’Dowd High School<\/p>\n

The emblem will now be displayed campus-wide.<\/p>\n

Not everyone is thrilled.<\/p>\n

An Instagram account run by alumni accused the school <\/a>Wednesday of undermining its responsibility to maintain a \u201cwelcoming, diverse community.\u201d<\/p>\n

The post argued that removing the flags \u201cdirectly affects the LGBTQ+ population of the school by removing pieces of representation.\u201d<\/p>\n

The alumni account urged members of the school community to \u201crespectfully\u201d email Walsh about the new Pride flag policy <\/a>as classes begin Monday.<\/p>\n

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