Gay and Lesbian Teachers and Students Association

Gay and Lesbian Teachers and Students Association
AbbreviationGaLTaS
Formation1991
Founded atNew South Wales
Dissolved1998 (1998)
TypeNGO
PurposeActivist and support organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, intersex and transgender students and teachers.
HeadquartersSydney
Location
Co-convenors
Derek Williams
Jacqui Griffin

The Gay and Lesbian Teachers and Students Association (GaLTaS) was an Australian LGBT organisation active from 1991 to 1998 that was established during a wave of gay gang murders to publicise widespread problems of anti-gay bullying and violence in Australian schools, as well as to offer support and a path to redress for its victims.[1][2] It was founded by two Committee members of the New South Wales Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby:[3] gay activist Derek Williams, a New Zealand born teacher at Randwick Boys High School[4][5] and Jennifer Glass, an 18-year-old lesbian New South Wales high school student.[6] Williams was subsequently six times re-elected its male co-convenor, and after the resignation of Jennifer Glass, teacher (now lawyer) Jacqui Griffin became female co-convenor for the major part of GaLTaS' significant activism.[7][8] Her GaLTaS SchoolWatch Report, and the association’s landmark legal cases representing LGBT+ students and teachers led to changes in government policy that had far-reaching and longlasting impact. Integral to GaLTaS' success was the activism of its student members, and its dialogue with unions, politicians, police, parents, and parent organisations PFLAG and Parents and Citizens (P&C).

  1. ^ Singerman, Deborah (18 January 1992). 'Testing Time for School Gays'. Page 36 (full page). The Sydney Morning Herald (Australia)
  2. ^ Singerman, Deborah. (27 November 1991). "Out of the closet and into the classroom". Green Left Issue 37. 6 September 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2023.
  3. ^ NSW Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby Human rights in Australia
  4. ^ Committee, Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby AGM, July 1990. (Source: Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby Annual Report 1988–1989). Wayback Machine. (Sydney, Australia)
  5. ^ Skiffington, Toni. (1 February 1997). 'Derek came out to find success and become a role model'. Page 14 (full page). The Daily Post (Rotorua, New Zealand)
  6. ^ Jennifer Glass. Lesbians on the Loose. Issue 14. February 1991. Trove.
  7. ^ (January 1996). 1996 'Derek Williams and Jacqui Griffin are the new co-convenors of the Gay and Lesbian Teachers and Students' Association'. Sydney's Pride History Group. Wayback Machine. Australia)
  8. ^ Zwolsman, Debbie. (July 1992). Dykes drop out while Chadwick stalls. Front page. Lesbians on the Loose. Issue 33, Vol. 3 No 7. Trove.

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