Cazenovia School Board VP and Pride Founder Faces State and Federal Charges in Child Exploitation Case, Prompting Pride Group Dissolution and Local Accountability Push

Travis J. Longo, 46, vice president of the Cazenovia Central School District Board of Education and founder of Cazenovia Pride Inc., was arrested on June 18, 2026, by New York State Police on four misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a child. Authorities allege he engaged in a pattern of sexually explicit communications with a child under age 12, with investigators indicating possible additional victims. The arrest stemmed from a multi-agency probe involving the State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Computer Crime Unit, Special Investigations Unit, and the Madison County Child Advocacy Center.[1][2]

Longo, who performed as the drag queen 'Anita Buffem,' also faces federal charges of receipt and possession of child pornography after troopers seized his phone. He appeared in federal court on June 20, 2026, and remains detained.[3][4]

In response, Cazenovia Pride Inc. announced it is canceling its 2026 Pride Festival and dissolving as an organization, stating Longo has no further affiliation. The group expressed regret for the pain caused to the community.[5]

The Cazenovia school board has demanded Longo's resignation, highlighting the case's direct implications for parental trust and child safety in local education governance. This incident has intensified scrutiny over institutional accountability in small-town school districts where board members hold significant influence over policies affecting families and students.