“We are a proud school. We are proud of our culture.”
A group of students from Burwood Girls High School in Sydney have hit back at a state government decision to ban a film about gay parenting being shown during school hours.
The controversy over Gayby Baby erupted yesterday after The Daily Telegraph reported that parents had complained about a planned screening of the film at Burwood Girls.
The film, which follows four children with same-sex parents and was directed by former Burwood Girls student Maya Newell, was set to be screened in schools across the country as part of Wear It Purple Day, which raises awareness of LGBTI issues in schools.
The state government was swift to act in the wake of the media storm, with education minister Adrian Piccoli banning all public high schools in NSW from showing the documentary during school hours.
However, the Guardian Australia later obtained a statement from the department of education and training confirming that no parents had actually complained to the school.
In response to the media furore, the prefects at Burwood Girls posted a statement to Facebook last night. It quickly amassed thousands of likes and shares.
"The Prefects of BGHS wish to express their disappointment at the media coverage of the school's intended showing of the documentary Gayby Baby," they wrote.
"As Burwood girls, we pride ourselves on our support of diversity – in whatever form it takes."
It was at Burwood Girls that the annual Wear It Purple Day began, started by former student Katherine Hudson in 2010. The school is also part of the Safe Schools Coalition, a group improving inclusion of LGBTI kids in schools.
The statement went on to list other events celebrating diversity that the school takes part in, including International Day, an annual Iftar dinner and Lunar New Year celebrations.