KENNEBUNK — The gay pride flag raised by the Gay Straight Trans Alliance (GSTA) Club at Kennebunk High School has been taken down less than a week after it was flown at the request of a transgender student who Principal Sue Cressey said was uncomfortable with the media attention.

Cressey said what was intended as a show of unity and support for all students at the school, quickly became “politicized” with media outlets calling district officials and students asking if they were trying to make a political statement. In a statement late Tuesday, Cressey said the flag will be displayed inside the school, and “we will continue to support all students."

A Twitter post by the “Feminist Group,” a new grassroots club that operates outside of the school, showing a short video of the flag raising ceremony went viral last Friday. KHS is said to be the first school in the state to fly a gay pride flag.

The GSTA Club has existed at KHS for many years and it supports gay, straight, and transgender students. The club has posters and messages posted inside the school, and they approached Cressey a few weeks ago saying they wanted something that showed their message of acceptance and unity outside as well. Cressey said with club funds they purchased the flag, and a ceremony was held to raise it, alongside flags from the countries of students at the school.

Cressey said the flag poles were purchased years ago by an exchange organization that brought students from other countries to the school, with the idea that it would fly flags representing the diversity of the school population.

“That’s how it all came about. It’s not a political thing. It’s a group of nice kids within the school that watch out for each other. It’s a group of kids across the culture of the high school, just trying to be nice people, because that’s the way our kids are here,” Cressey said.

Kayla Fadiman, a sophomore at KHS, said the flag “means that everyone at Kennebunk High School will be treated equally regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. It demonstrates that our school is a safe place for LGBTQ youth where they will be protected and supported.”

“I want the people who see this flag to know that our school is a place of compassion and tolerance," she said. "The flag is not a political statement, but a physical representation of peace, inclusion, and strength in diversity.”

Her father, school board member Matt Fadiman, speaking as a parent, said he was proud of his daughter.

“I am proud to see my daughter and so many KHS students set a visible example of inclusion and acceptance. And I am proud of the school for supporting those efforts. While my daughter is straight, labels matter little to her. She and all the kids care only that their friends and peers feel happy and supported. It's really as simple as that. We often hear so much about bullying, intolerance, fear and suspicion. Isn't it terrific to know that the kids at KHS want to set the opposite example?” Matt Fadiman said.

Cressey said that RSU 21 Superintendent Katie Hawes and the school board were supportive of the students' efforts and appreciated the fact that the flag was raised by students who were showing care and support for other students.

Her decision to take down the flag came after a flurry of attention that interfered with the school day at KHS.

“After an afternoon of calls from various news organizations, it became clear to me that the First Amendment right to fly the flag was interfering with the educational process at KHS and making some students very uncomfortable," Cressey said. "So I made the decision to take the flag down."