PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia-area teen says he was denied admission to the private boarding school supported by the Hershey chocolate company because he's HIV-positive.
A discrimination suit filed Wednesday claims the Milton Hershey School violated anti-discrimination laws in denying the 13-year-old's request for admission to the school for disadvantaged students.
The AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania filed the lawsuit for the unidentified boy. Attorney Ronda Goldfein says her client requires no special accommodations.
In a statement released to WCAU-TV, school officials acknowledge the boy was denied admission for safety reasons. The school says it must protect the safety of the other 1,850 students already enrolled.
Founded in 1909 by chocolate maker Milton Hershey, the school educates low-income and socially disadvantaged students for free with the support of The Hershey Co.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
