Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland will no longer display Pride and Progress flags in its classrooms, opting instead for a newly designed school emblem. The change, effective for the 2026-2027 school year, comes after the flags became a point of contention on campus.
School President Kim Walsh announced that the new symbol, dubbed the “Inclusive O,” is intended to affirm the school’s commitment to all members of its community, including LGBTQ+ students, families, faculty, and staff. The emblem features a large letter “O” incorporating colors from the Pride and Progress flag. Walsh stated that this symbol, which will be displayed campus-wide, is designed to be unique to Bishop O’Dowd and defined by the school community itself.
The decision followed a year-long consultation process with students and community members after the flags became a “lightning rod” issue. Supporters of the change believe the “Inclusive O” offers a distinct school identity, promoting unity by providing a single, school-specific symbol for the entire student body, rather than appearing to endorse particular social or political causes. Some parents and community members also feel the new approach aligns more closely with traditional Catholic teachings.
However, the decision has drawn criticism from some alumni. An Instagram account run by alumni expressed that removing the flags “directly affects the LGBTQ+ population of the school by removing pieces of representation.” This account urged community members to respectfully contact Walsh regarding the new policy as classes prepare to begin.
The school plans to use the “Inclusive O” symbol on materials and throughout the campus, aiming to create a unified representation of the school's inclusive values. The year of discussions concluded that this custom symbol would serve as a unique identifier for Bishop O’Dowd, representing everyone within the school community.![Illustration of a rainbow watercolor "O" symbol on a black background with repeating words "SEEN KNOWN LOVED".]( "Illustration of a rainbow watercolor "O" symbol on a black background with repeating words "SEEN KNOWN LOVED".")