This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/27/daniel-andrews-attacks-nsw-government-over-gayby-baby-rubbish
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Daniel Andrews attacks NSW government over Gayby Baby 'rubbish' | Daniel Andrews attacks NSW government over Gayby Baby 'rubbish' |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has condemned a New South Wales decision to ban a documentary on gay parenting from high school classes, labelling the apparent controversy over the film “cruel rubbish”. | The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, has condemned a New South Wales decision to ban a documentary on gay parenting from high school classes, labelling the apparent controversy over the film “cruel rubbish”. |
| Students at one school that planned to screen the film, Burwood girls high, have also spoken out, saying they “pride ourselves on our support of diversity” and are “leaders in the push for equality and acceptance for all people”. | Students at one school that planned to screen the film, Burwood girls high, have also spoken out, saying they “pride ourselves on our support of diversity” and are “leaders in the push for equality and acceptance for all people”. |
| Related: News Limited should watch Gayby Baby. They might learn something about respect | Penny Wong | Related: News Limited should watch Gayby Baby. They might learn something about respect | Penny Wong |
| Andrews said he had taken his family to see Gayby Baby, an Australian documentary highlighting the unique and the ordinary challenges faced by four children with same-sex parents. | Andrews said he had taken his family to see Gayby Baby, an Australian documentary highlighting the unique and the ordinary challenges faced by four children with same-sex parents. |
| “But apparently the NSW government thinks it’s all too confusing and distressing a subject for high school students,” the premier said on Facebook. “I’m getting really sick of this stuff.” | “But apparently the NSW government thinks it’s all too confusing and distressing a subject for high school students,” the premier said on Facebook. “I’m getting really sick of this stuff.” |
| The NSW education minister, Adrian Piccoli, on Wednesday directed schools across the state not to show the documentary during class time. | The NSW education minister, Adrian Piccoli, on Wednesday directed schools across the state not to show the documentary during class time. |
| “During school hours we expect them to be doing maths and English and curriculum matters,” Piccoli told 2GB Radio. “This movie is not part of the curriculum and that’s why I’ve made that direction.” | “During school hours we expect them to be doing maths and English and curriculum matters,” Piccoli told 2GB Radio. “This movie is not part of the curriculum and that’s why I’ve made that direction.” |
| His orders followed a front-page story in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph which alleged there had been a “backlash from parents” over the planned screening. | His orders followed a front-page story in Sydney’s Daily Telegraph which alleged there had been a “backlash from parents” over the planned screening. |
| A comment piece accompanying the story claimed there had been “numerous complaints” and argued that Piccoli should be sacked if he allowed the screening to go ahead. | A comment piece accompanying the story claimed there had been “numerous complaints” and argued that Piccoli should be sacked if he allowed the screening to go ahead. |
| As Burwood girls, we pride ourselves on our support of diversity – in whatever form it takes | As Burwood girls, we pride ourselves on our support of diversity – in whatever form it takes |
| But the Department of Education confirmed later on Wednesday not a single complaint had been made by parents to the school. | But the Department of Education confirmed later on Wednesday not a single complaint had been made by parents to the school. |
| Asked if Piccoli had been aware no parents had complained when he pulled the film, a spokeswoman for the minister said his decision “was not driven by complaints of any nature, but rather a need to adhere to policy and procedure, and for class time to be used to teach the curriculum”. | |
| “The minister was made aware by the department, that departmental policies and procedures had not been adhered to in the school’s decision to screen the film,” she said. | |
| “He directed the department of education that the film Gayby Baby must not be shown in school time so that it does not impact on the delivery of the planned lessons.” | |
| The NSW premier, Mike Baird, said he supported the ban on the film. “I understand the intent of that is to provide an example of tolerance and that’s something I absolutely support,” he said. “Should it be in class time? No, I don’t think so. Should it be optional? Yes, I do think so.” | |
| Prefects from Burwood girls high condemned the media coverage that contributed to the screening being stopped in a statement posted to Facebook. “As Burwood girls, we pride ourselves on our support of diversity – in whatever form it takes,” they said. | Prefects from Burwood girls high condemned the media coverage that contributed to the screening being stopped in a statement posted to Facebook. “As Burwood girls, we pride ourselves on our support of diversity – in whatever form it takes,” they said. |
| “When it is considered that the LGBTIQ community has the highest rates of suicide of any population in Australia and experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues, we consider our support to be just one small step in creating better understanding in the community.” | “When it is considered that the LGBTIQ community has the highest rates of suicide of any population in Australia and experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues, we consider our support to be just one small step in creating better understanding in the community.” |
| The students said events were regularly held “which aim to support and celebrate the diversity of our school community”, including lunar new year celebrations and dinners to break the Ramadan fast. | The students said events were regularly held “which aim to support and celebrate the diversity of our school community”, including lunar new year celebrations and dinners to break the Ramadan fast. |
| “We consider ourselves leaders in the push for equality and acceptance – for all people,” they wrote. | “We consider ourselves leaders in the push for equality and acceptance – for all people,” they wrote. |
| An activist group, Community Action Against Homophobia, plans to protest outside the Daily Telegraph’s office on Sunday over its coverage. | An activist group, Community Action Against Homophobia, plans to protest outside the Daily Telegraph’s office on Sunday over its coverage. |
| The film was to be screened as part of Wear it Purple Day, a campaign aimed at supporting LBTGIQ students. | The film was to be screened as part of Wear it Purple Day, a campaign aimed at supporting LBTGIQ students. |
| Parents of students at the school told Guardian Australia they had been “delighted” at plans to show Gayby Baby. One parent, Genevieve, said parents were clearly advised they “had every opportunity to stop our children seeing it”. | Parents of students at the school told Guardian Australia they had been “delighted” at plans to show Gayby Baby. One parent, Genevieve, said parents were clearly advised they “had every opportunity to stop our children seeing it”. |
| “It’s PG-rated, and from what I understand it’s about families and parents and there’s nothing overtly sexual about it, or offensive.” | “It’s PG-rated, and from what I understand it’s about families and parents and there’s nothing overtly sexual about it, or offensive.” |
| Nor was she concerned about the film being screened during class. “That’s exactly where they should be learning stuff like this,” she said. | Nor was she concerned about the film being screened during class. “That’s exactly where they should be learning stuff like this,” she said. |
| Writing for Guardian Australia, the federal Labor senator Penny Wong said the need to show support for young same sex-attracted and gender diverse young people “couldn’t be greater”. | Writing for Guardian Australia, the federal Labor senator Penny Wong said the need to show support for young same sex-attracted and gender diverse young people “couldn’t be greater”. |
| She said a survey of young LGBTI Australians had shown that 64% had been verbally abused, 18% physically abused and 16% had attempted suicide. | She said a survey of young LGBTI Australians had shown that 64% had been verbally abused, 18% physically abused and 16% had attempted suicide. |
| “Behind these statistics are stories of deep personal hurt. The young people and the teachers who work to reduce harm in our schools deserve support, not condemnation,” she wrote. | “Behind these statistics are stories of deep personal hurt. The young people and the teachers who work to reduce harm in our schools deserve support, not condemnation,” she wrote. |
| Statement from Burwood girls high school prefects: | Statement from Burwood girls high school prefects: |
| The Prefects of BGHS wish to express their disappointment at the media coverage of the school’s intended showing of the documentary Gayby Baby. | The Prefects of BGHS wish to express their disappointment at the media coverage of the school’s intended showing of the documentary Gayby Baby. |
| As Burwood girls, we pride ourselves on our support of diversity - in whatever form it takes. | As Burwood girls, we pride ourselves on our support of diversity - in whatever form it takes. |
| Throughout the year we partake in multiple events which aim to support and celebrate the diversity of our school community as a collective. | Throughout the year we partake in multiple events which aim to support and celebrate the diversity of our school community as a collective. |
| These include International Day- which celebrates our multicultural community- this year raising $15,000 for international charities, an annual Iftar dinner to support out Islamic community, and Lunar New Year celebrations to support our Asian community, amongst a range of others. | These include International Day- which celebrates our multicultural community- this year raising $15,000 for international charities, an annual Iftar dinner to support out Islamic community, and Lunar New Year celebrations to support our Asian community, amongst a range of others. |
| We consider ourselves leaders in the push for equality and acceptance - for all people. | We consider ourselves leaders in the push for equality and acceptance - for all people. |
| When it is considered that the LGBTIQ community has the highest rates of suicide of any population in Australia and experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues, we consider our support to be just one small step in creating better understanding in the community. | When it is considered that the LGBTIQ community has the highest rates of suicide of any population in Australia and experience significantly higher rates of mental health issues, we consider our support to be just one small step in creating better understanding in the community. |
| We are a proud school. We are proud of our culture. And we are proud of the leadership our school shows in supporting all views and the right for all people to be accepted. | We are a proud school. We are proud of our culture. And we are proud of the leadership our school shows in supporting all views and the right for all people to be accepted. |