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Wilson High School’s principal announced he is gay at the school’s Pride Day event today. Principal Pete Cahall said his students inspired him to come out after hiding in the “shadows for the last 50 years,” according to the Washington Post.

Mayor Vince Gray and Councilmember David Catania, the Council’s first openly gay member, were on stage as Cahall made the announcement. Catania immediately tweeted that this was a “proud day” at Wilson High.

Other D.C. officials, including Gray and Councilmembers Mary Cheh and David Grosso, similarly lauded Cahall and the school’s Pride Day festivities.

“I am glad to be an ally of the LGBTQ community, and I’m very proud that we have been a true leader in advancing causes like marriage equality and transgender awareness and equality here in the District since I’ve been in public office,” Gray said in a statement this afternoon. 

The anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church is prepping to picket Wilson’s celebrations on Monday, June 9 at 8:45 a.m. The students are planning a counterprotest. 

Photo by Philippa Willitts via Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0