OPENLY GAY HEAD BOY CHOSEN FOR TOP BRIT SCHOOL

A 17-year-old has become the first openly gay head boy to be awarded the role at one of Britain’s elite private schools.

The Daily Mail reported that Will Emery was voted head boy by pupils and staff at Brighton College in Sussex.

Emery came out to his family three years ago and is openly gay.

Brighton College is among Britain’s most exclusive and expensive schools, with boarding fees starting at £27,000 (about R434,550) a year.

“I don’t think my sexuality had any impact on my being chosen, but in other periods, when people had to hide their sexuality, it could have been a different story,” commented Emery.

The announcement of his appointment as head boy was reportedly met with a huge round of applause from pupils and staff.

The school’s Headmaster Richard Cairns said that the teen “was a very popular choice – the rugby players voted for him along with many others”.

He added: “But I bet if I wrote to the old boys and said our head boy was openly gay, some of them would think it’s very strange indeed.”

Emery told the Sunday Times: “They grew up in a society where homosexuality wasn’t spoken about. Their views need to be changed.”