Posted in Alabama Law on March 31, 2023
Partners Lynn Sherrod and Kenny Cole represented the family of Nigel Shelby, a black openly gay 9th grader, who was bullied at Huntsville High School and sought protection from school officials.
The lawsuit noted that Nigel’s suicide occurred shortly after a school official told Nigel and a classmate to dance to “black people’s music” to make Nigel feel better and that harassment was the price he had to pay for being gay. After a 4 year legal battle, the school board finally agreed to implement system-wide policies and procedures specifically addressing and intended to put an end to harassment and bullying of the LGBTQ community in Huntsville City Schools.
Lynn and Kenny hope these changes in Huntsville will encourage other school systems to do the same.