Yet another shameful decision on equality.
Today, schools across NSW were banned from showing a PG film to students during school hours.
Not just any film. A gay parenting documentary called Gayby Baby.
The whole fiasco started after Burwood Girls High School planned a screening of the movie – directed by former student Maya Newell – for its 1200 students during class time.
It was scheduled for Friday to coincide with the school’s annual ‘Wear It Purple Day’, a day dedicated to supporting sexual inclusion.
But after some parents kicked up a fuss, the school clarified that students could opt out.
Then, a local Presbyterian Minister inexplicably became involved, claiming it was “trying to change children’s minds by promoting a gay lifestyle”. (Seriously, what century are we in again?)
The public school was criticised for inappropriately airing political issues.
“During school hours we expect them to be doing maths and English and curriculum matters,” NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said after he announced that NSW schools would not be able to show the film.
“This movie is not part of the curriculum and that’s why I’ve made that direction.”
Maya Newell told Mamamia the ban was just another upsetting example of families of same sex couples being “brought to the forefront and shown that we’re worth less and that our families are not welcome in the education system”.
She said the school curriculum states student diversity should be supported – a message promoted through the film, which follows the lives of four children of same-sex parents.
“The film is much more about four kids who are growing up and are experiencing the universal trials and tribulations of oncoming puberty than it is about the sexualisation of their parents,” the 27-year-old, who grew up with two mums, said.
“It’s only political in the sense that they exist and they seem to have to prove their right to exist all the time.”
“When I was at school we didn’t talk about different family structures… I think all students deserve the right to have their family structures celebrated and reflected in their education. And I hope we’re working towards that.”
By banning the film’s viewing during school hours, it effectively sends students the message that acceptance of non-nuclear families is optional.
“All schools should be places where young people have the right to participate in national conversation,” Ms Newell said.
“I think by forcing the film to be screened outside of school hours, it sends a very clear message that these families are an alternative view and they are not being supported by the Department of Education.”
“A family is a family, and it doesn’t matter what the sexuality and gender of our parents are. We should be having a national conversation about how does anyone – straight, gay or otherwise – raise healthy, well-adjusted children.”
The banning is an example of a weak government bowing to the pressures of the minority.
How are students supposed to learn about acceptance and equality when eager-to-please governments continually pander to the demands of a bigoted few?
The whole ugly debacle is exactly why students should be watching movies that promote the message that all people are equal, regardless of their sexuality.
Gayby Baby opens across the country in select cinemas next week. For info, click here.
Do you think the movie should have been banned?
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The 9 movies you have to watch while you’re on maternity leave.
Top Comments
I'm a staunch supporter of marriage equality and the right of gay people to raise children and applaud the move to normalise their experience within the school community, but I DON'T know the content of this film and would like the opportunity to see it first, or at the same time as my teens so I could follow up with their questions.
Don't assume that parents who don't want this shown at school, haven't or won't discuss this issue at home but PG says PARENTAL guidance. Unfortunately too many of us are reluctant to accept the school's judgement on 'suitability' as the trust has been betrayed in the past (vegan teachers showing abbatoir videos during Maths, or blatant political brainwashing in the lead up to elections).
The man I married 10 years ago is now gay. My children were 4 years old and 8 months when I discovered he'd been cheating for over a year. We had been together for 12 years. We'd had a fairytale wedding, travelled and lived overseas, purchased a house and decided to have children. After five rounds of IVF, two miscarriages and a son born 9 weeks early, we had our two precious babes.
Since our divorce 3.5 years ago my good friend and family have know the truth but it's not something I advertise.....and perhaps this has been my biggest mistake. His decision to come out so late in life left me with no income, despite being an industry specialist in my own right, and a three week old business that we set up together but obviously had little income and no salary and two children under four years old. Small business is an insane ride, but nothing compared to navigating single parenting, especially when one parent has left to be with the opposite sex.
My ex was outgoing, very popular, intelligent and very family oriented. However now he is a recluse, he's lost many of his friend (not because he's gay but because of all the lies and deceit that lead him to come out), he's had several partners non that stick and he can only manage to be with the children two days per fortnight.
I have navigated questions like "do you love daddy ?"("of course because he helped make you" is the answer by the way but it took me at least two fumbling attempts with my 5 year old to figure that out). I've explained that daddy left to be with "Mark" (false name) but what I've never said is "Daddy left because he prefers men”.
Why is this so crucial? My little man is now 7 years old. He is generally a happy and healthy little boy but he's a deep thinker. He's got an anxious noise like a dog crying that he makes when things are quiet, he can't bare to be left alone even when I'm only in the kitchen. I've sought help from a child psychologist who had confirmed that he has a fear of abandonment. People, including my ex, say that children are resilient and I believe that is true to an extent however his father leaving him at the age of four has profoundly affected not only his feeling of security but also his understanding of relationships and family.
He doesn’t really understand why Daddy left. He goes to a school where all the books are about the mums and dads and homes and pets etc. All the 'normal' stuff! The teachers all know that his dad is gay and are supportive, but it’s not discussed openly, it’s made out by us all to be something that shouldn’t be discussed. My greatest fear is that my children will grow up feeling ashamed of who they are. Our society and our school system does not support different families, they accept, but they don’t support.
There is a book you can buy online about two women or two men who decide to have a child but non to my knowledge on heterosexual parents where one becomes homosexual. Imagine the uproar if any of these were in my children's school library!
We are a really long way from equality and it's not only affecting the gay community but our entire community. Being gay or straight isn't about good and bad after all and being gay and a parent are not mutually exclusive yet so few people, including me until this point, have really been comfortable with how to manage it at a family/school level.
Why doesn't my family look "normal” is what I hear when he talks about others.
I want my children to be proud of who they are. I don't want them, or their father, to live in shame because he is gay. Don't get me wrong I'm human and I'm still angry that he was not able to come out before our marriage and for the fact that I may never truly trust again but that has a lot to do with him cheating and lying but nothing to do with being gay. I'm not homophobic in the slightest, one of my best and oldest friends is gay and he is in a living and stable relationship that my children are exposed to.
If only we could all be accepting then I wouldn't need to worry about how my children may be taunted by others in the play ground, or how the books at school or the other families may appear.
To this day, as a women, having been married to and had children with a man who then decided he was gay is personally hurtful and embarrassing and the complete opposite of where I thought my life would lead. However, I want my children to hold their heads high under their circumstance and the only way I can do that is to come out of my closet! No more hiding the truth, no more being embarrassed about being cheated on or left. I won't let my circumstance dictate how I feel about myself and I will do everything in my power to ensure my children don't either. Yep, I married and had children with a man who became gay…so what! And I want my children to grow up in an environment that is accepting of all types of family units.
I haven’t seen the Gayby Baby film but I would give anything to have it shown in my children’s school. It would make there lives feel just a little more ‘normal’.
You sound like a really good mum, by the way :)