The Gay and Lesbian Teachers and Students Association (GaLTaS) was an Australian LGBT organisation active from 1991 to 1998 that was established to publicise widespread problems of anti-gay bullying and violence in Australian schools, and to provide support to its victims. It was founded by gay activist Derek Williams, a New Zealand born teacher at Randwick Boys High School and Jennifer Glass, an 18-year-old lesbian New South Wales high school student. A controversial attempt to set up a similar support organisation 'GAYTAS' in 1978 had failed, with same-sex relationships at that stage still a criminal offence in New South Wales until law repeal in 1984. However, GaLTaS survived after LGBT+ students themselves spoke openly to both LGBT+ and mainstream media. The organisation was registered as an Australian Incorporated Society, and was managed by a committee elected at each AGM, headed by two co-convenors. Williams was subsequently six times re-elected its male co-convenor, and after the resignation of Glass, lawyer Jacqui Griffin became female co-convenor for the major part of GaLTaS’ significant activism.
Political response
The impetus to set up GaLTaS had reached a crucial point following the 1990 murder convictions and 18-year prison sentences handed down to 8 students from Sydney's Cleveland Street High School and a North Shore Catholic School for the gay-related killing of Richard Johnson. Amid a spate of such attacks, gay teacher Wayne Tonks was also brutally murdered by two 16-year-old students from Cleveland Street High School after he had received threats at school and had had his house ransacked.
After meeting at the New South Wales Parliament with Derek Williams, Carole Ruthchild and some of the students affected by homophobic victimisation, Education Minister Virginia Chadwick implemented School Anti-discrimination Grievance Procedures for Students, that provided a means for LGBT+ students to achieve redress and complete their education. This was expanded and re-issued in 1995 to incorporate amendments to the Anti-Discrimination Act.
In February 1997, as GaLTaS delegate, Williams addressed a Parliament of Australia forum on youth suicide convened by then Prime Minister, John Howard, working with Heather Horntvedt, representing PFLAG who also attended and addressed the forum.
Media representation
GaLTaS’ activism on behalf of students was widely reported in both LGBT+ and largely sympathetic mainstream news mastheads as well as in television documentaries, and this helped bring the plight of LGBT+ students into public focus. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation Attitude program and Channel 9's 60 Minutes broadcast television documentaries covering GaLTaS' endeavours to keep LGBT+ students at school. In 1992, Derek Williams represented GaLTaS as a guest on the Nine Network's TV series Sex episode "Homosexuality", hosted by Australian actress Sophie Lee with Dr Kerryn Phelps as a medical reporter. The episode was a televised dinner at the Nine Network studios, together with Festival of Light politician Fred Nile and Parents and Citizens representatives. Williams was subsequently interviewed with Phelps on the Today Show concerning ongoing issues of school-based homophobia.
The SchoolWatch Report
In March 1993, GaLTaS was awarded a Federal National Youth Grant of $30,000 (=c.$68,400 equivalent in 2023) by the Government of Australia to establish a toll-free hotline for gay and lesbian student victims of homophobic harassment and violence in schools. More than 500 calls were taken by specially trained counsellors, and the research was compiled by GaLTaS co-convenor Jacqui Griffin for inclusion in The SchoolWatch Report : A Study Into Anti-Lesbian and Anti-Gay Harassment and Violence in Australian Schools, launched in 1995 at Randwick Boys High School by Virginia Chadwick. Following the launch of her SchoolWatch Report, Griffin and Williams continued to work with Chadwick alongside the New South Wales Department of Education, the New South Wales Parents and Citizens Association and the New South Wales Anti-discrimination Board to address ongoing issues of school bullying, suicidal ideation, suicide among LGBT youth and homicide by students, via workshops, teacher training and books in schools programmes. Following the defeat of the NSW Liberal Party by Labor at the 1995 New South Wales state election, Chadwick was succeeded as Education Minister by John Aquilina, who eventually cancelled her reforms.