Gayby Baby team launches school toolkit

The team behind a film on children with same-sex parents has launched a school toolkit to celebrate the diversity of modern families, the filmmakers say.

Gayby Baby

A still from the Australian film Gayby Baby. Source: AAP

The team behind the film Gayby Baby has created a toolkit for schools to "celebrate diversity".

The documentary about children with same-sex parents sparked a furore last year after reports of a parent backlash at a proposed screening at Sydney's Burwood Girls High School.

The NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli intervened by banning the film during class time, unless it directly related to the curriculum.

The move drew criticism from activists and other parents, prompting Premier Mike Baird to try and diffuse the outrage on both sides.

"Everyone - every single person - has value. Everyone is normal," he said at the time.

The film's director Maya Newell said the toolkit has been designed to celebrate diversity.

"There is a need to increase understanding, respect and inclusion of diverse families in the school community, and empower students and schools to be agents of change," she said in a statement ahead of the Sydney launch on Thursday.

The toolkit has been developed for Year 5 to Year 10 with a link to the Health and Physical Education learning area of the Australian Curriculum, the creators said.

It includes content from Gayby Baby, which played at both the Sydney and London film festivals last year.

NSW public schools will be left to decide whether or not to use the toolkit, but the NSW Education Department would not endorse the Gayby Project.

"The Department does not endorse externally produced resources," a spokesman said in a statement.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tanya Plibersek is expected to attend the Sydney launch in Surry Hills alongside independent NSW state MP Alex Greenwich.

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Source: AAP


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Gayby Baby team launches school toolkit | SBS News