Filmmakers defend same-sex doco being shown in school

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The Australian filmmakers of Gayby Baby have defended their documentary about children from same-sex families following reports that parents were angry their daughters had to watch it at a Sydney high school.

Burwood Girls High School had planned to screen the film, directed by former student Maya Newell, during school hours tomorrow.

The screening was to be followed by a morning tea with purple cupcakes and a purple fashion parade as part of the student-led Wear It Purple initiative to promote diversity and inclusiveness in schools.

Newell, 27, said Gayby Baby, which is classified as a family film in Australia and by international film festivals, is more about four children and their lives as they grow up than their parents' sexuality.

"I think the context in which it's being viewed is political because that just what our society is talking about," Newell said yesterday, referring to the debate around same-sex marriage.

"But the film is not an advocacy film at all. It is really just projecting the voice of children who are existing in our society."

After the Daily Telegraph reported that parents were angry about the film being shown, NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli told the Department of Education to ensure the film was not shown in school hours.

A flyer sent to parents last week by the school's principal, Mia Kumar, said the film event was part of Safe Schools Coalition NSW - a programme to stand against homophobia - and that students could opt out from viewing the film.

- AAP