The Booklet Collective, Melbourne Gay Teachers’ and Students’ Group, August 1978Īlthough various activist groups for gay and lesbian liberation were well organised and active by the late 1970s, law reform was slow in coming in the Australian states, and homophobic violence and discrimination continued through the period. Real change will be a long term process in which all of us who have helped perpetuate the cycle of oppression of our gay students, whether actively or by default, seriously examine our attitudes–and where necessary, make a conscious commitment to risk stepping out of that role. The publication of Young, Gay and Proud is one small step in a long overdue educational campaign. … Effective change in the situation for gay students will not be achieved by decree or by mere good intentions. Gay students need support and they need it now. “Whilst realising the difficulties of setting up a human relationships programme in many schools, we feel that an unequivocal affirmation of the validity of homosexual relationships is the only responsible course open to educators. Craig Campbell, PhD DipEd University of Sydney This entry posted April 4, 2014.