Judge: Alpharetta Teen Won’t be Reinstated as Student Body President

April 24th, 2012

An Alpharetta High School student proposed making the school prom more inclusive of gay students. Reuben Lack says that’s why he was ousted as student body president and filed a lawsuit. But this week, U.S. District Judge Richard Story rejected Reuben Lack’s bid to be reinstated as Alpharetta High School’s student body president. Lack’s attorney, James Radford, says although the case took its toll on his client, it also started a discussion about the rights of gay teenagers.

“This case has undoubtedly been a victory for First Amendment values of public discourse and freedom of expression,” Radford says, “And it has inspired a lot of discussion about this issue.”

Fulton County Schools Spokesperson Samantha Evans says it’s not a victory for the district.

“The school district doesn’t see this as, ‘Oh, this is this great win of ours,’ because it’s against a student,” Evans says, “So it’s not a win in that capacity.”

However, Evans says Lack was removed from office due to “ineffective leadership.”