Former student links Sydney school’s prefect rejection to his sexuality
Luke Gallagher says his Sydney religious school rejected his application to become a prefect when he was 15, despite his academic results and school activities. He believes the principal’s comments that he was not the “right fit” were linked to his being openly gay, and says the experience still affects him.
Gallagher has since graduated from the University of Sydney, taken on other leadership roles and begun a law degree. He has spoken out as Wentworth MP Allegra Spender introduces a bill that would protect students and staff at religious schools from discrimination based on being LGBTQIA+, pregnant or divorced; the proposal would retain schools’ ability to hire in line with their faith and teach their beliefs.
- Luke Gallagher says his sexuality influenced a prefect application rejection.
- He says the experience still affects him years later.
- A proposed bill would extend protections at religious schools.
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Prefects are pupils chosen to take on leadership duties and represent their school. Luke Gallagher says his religious school in Sydney turned down his application at 15, and he believes the decision was connected to his being openly gay.
The issue is part of a wider debate about whether religious schools should be allowed to treat LGBTQIA+ pupils and staff differently. Wentworth MP Allegra Spender’s proposed bill would protect people from discrimination based on sexuality and other circumstances, while preserving schools’ ability to hire in line with their faith and teach their beliefs.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Religious schools should be able to express their faith in their culture and leadership choices, and may argue that prefects are expected to represent the school’s ethos as well as demonstrate academic and extracurricular achievement. Supporters of the proposed bill could also contend that protecting LGBTQIA+ students from discrimination is consistent with equal dignity and that the bill’s stated limits preserve schools’ ability to teach their beliefs and make faith-aligned hiring decisions.
The case against
A student’s sexuality should not determine access to a school leadership role, particularly when the student meets the stated expectations and the decision is explained only as a question of “fit”. Critics of the bill may argue that its protections could constrain religious schools’ ability to shape their community and apply faith-based standards consistently, even where those standards are central to the school’s identity.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Gay Aussie unleashes after principal rejects his application to become prefect despite being a top student”.