Complaint in Aaron Fricke v. Richard B. Lynch
5/12/1980
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The plaintiff in this court case, Aaron Fricke, filed this complaint against Richard Lynch, the principal of his high school. Aaron Fricke v. Richard B. Lynch was one of the earliest cases involving LGBTQ+ civil rights.
Fricke was an 18-year-old male high school student. He was denied a ticket to his prom at Cumberland High School in Rhode Island because he planned to bring a male date. Fricke and his attorneys claimed this violated his First Amendment rights of association and free speech, and his Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection of the laws. They sought an injunction ordering the high school to allow Fricke to attend. The District Court of the United States for the District of Rhode Island issued the injunction in Fricke v. Lynch, and Aaron Fricke was allowed to attend the prom with his date.
Fricke was an 18-year-old male high school student. He was denied a ticket to his prom at Cumberland High School in Rhode Island because he planned to bring a male date. Fricke and his attorneys claimed this violated his First Amendment rights of association and free speech, and his Fourteenth Amendment right to equal protection of the laws. They sought an injunction ordering the high school to allow Fricke to attend. The District Court of the United States for the District of Rhode Island issued the injunction in Fricke v. Lynch, and Aaron Fricke was allowed to attend the prom with his date.
This primary source comes from the Records of District Courts of the United States.
National Archives Identifier: 29033010
Full Citation: Complaint in Aaron Fricke v. Richard B. Lynch; 5/12/1980 ; Aaron Fricke v. Richard B. Lynch; Civil Action Case Files, 1938 - 1999; Records of District Courts of the United States, Record Group 21; National Archives at Boston, Waltham, MA. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/complaint-fricke-v-lynch, April 25, 2024]Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Learn more on our privacy and legal page.