US school faces lawsuit after gay teen takes own life

The family of Nigel Shelby, a 15-year-old black gay student who took his own life in 2019 after being bullied at his school in Alabama, has filed a lawsuit that argues that the City of Huntsville Board of Education violated Shelby’s civil rights by not providing him with sufficient support and protection, according to AL News.

During a press conference held two months after his death, Shelby’s mother, Camika Shelby, said: “I feel like from the bottom of my heart, if someone had said something, this could have been prevented.” She added: “He was failed by a system that was supposed to protect him.” The family is being represented by civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, who released a statement on social media saying: “School admin were aware of his plans [to take his life], but didn’t alert Nigel’s parents.”

According to the Human Rights Campaign, 40% of black LGBTQ+ teens experience bullying at school, with a further 47% facing discrimination from family due to their sexuality and/or gender identity. As a result, 80% of black LGBTQ+ youth reported feeling depressed on a regular basis, with only 35% having access to counselling.