Gay Aussie unleashes after principal rejects his application to become prefect despite being a top student

An Aussie has unleashed after he was denied the chance to become a school prefect despite being a model student because he was not considered the ‘right fit’. 

Luke Gallagher, 28, now a law student, said he was 15 when the principal of his independent school in Sydney rejected his application for a student leadership role, despite his strong academic results and involvement in extracurricular activities, including running the school newspaper and taking part in an international school trip. 

‘I was told that none of that mattered,’ he told Daily Mail. 

‘The principal said the way I carried myself didn’t align with the school’s values and the direction they were headed and that people like me weren’t destined to represent people.

‘I was openly gay at school and was bullied a lot for it in my younger high school years, so I knew exactly what “people like me” meant.’  

Mr Gallagher said he told his parents who didn’t think there was much they could do.

‘They were supportive, but felt that for someone my age, it was easier not to cause disruption.’ 

Although he has since landed leadership roles elsewhere, Mr Gallagher said the high school ordeal still affected him.

‘Since then, I’ve graduated from Sydney University, held all sorts of leadership roles, and I’m now doing a law degree,’ he said.

‘However, I still think back to being told that someone like me couldn’t represent other people.’

In a video shared to social media, Mr Gallagher said he felt that similar issues still persisted at some religious schools today.

‘At religious schools today, it is still so much worse than that,’ he said. 

‘Teachers can be sacked and students can be expelled for being gay, pregnant, or divorced, even in 2026.’ 

Mr Gallagher said he hoped that sharing his story would help drive change, especially since there were students who experienced far worse than he had. 

‘I think I got off lightly and that there are kids who lose their friends and lose their livelihood because of who they love,’ he said.

‘I don’t think that’s acceptable in 2026. 

‘I know that this [issue] is something my MP is fighting for and I think it is really important which is why I sound so passionate.’

The politician Mr Gallagher referred to was Member for Wentworth Allegra Spender, who introduced the Sex Discrimination and Fair Work Amendment (Equality in Treatment in Religious Schools) Bill to the House of Representatives on Monday.

‘Every student and teacher should feel safe at school without needing to hide who they are,’ she said on Instagram. 

The legislation, if passed, would protect students and teachers at religious schools from being expelled or sacked for being LGBTQIA+, pregnant or divorced. 

‘This bill still protects religious freedom, while schools keep the right to hire in line with their faith and what they teach remains the same,’ Ms Spender said.

‘Australia’s Sex Discrimination Act protects people from unfair treatment… but an exemption for religious schools means they can expel students or sack teachers for being gay, divorced or pregnant, something no other school can do.

‘My bill closes that gap, so all students and teachers have the same protections.’    

Daily Mail has reached out to Allegra Spender for comment.