Gayby Baby
By Dana Bellamy
Gayby Baby is an observational documentary that takes a look at the lives and upbringings of four Australian kids growing up with same-sex parents. While the film was produced on the other side of the globe, the sold-out screening clearly struck a chord with Guelph audiences—some attendees even opting to sit on the floor just to see this film.
As far as documentaries go, Gayby Baby is a pretty formulaic “Slice of Life” kind of film. One by one, director Maya Newell introduces the audience to these young tweens and their individual struggles. What drives the story, however, is the growth that each child experiences within the confines of the 85-minute film.
Gus is a witty 10-year-old trying to convince his two moms that wrestling is not as violent and misogynistic as they might think. He compares his own budding masculinity to that of world champion wrestlers and often pushes the boundaries of what is appropriate social behaviour in the eyes of his parents. Twelve-year-old Ebony is doing everything she can to be accepted into a prestigious performing arts high school where her two moms hope she will be more welcome and normalized. Although her family does not have much money and most of their time is spent looking after her epileptic younger brother, they push Ebony to be the best singer she can be with the risk of rejection hanging over her head. Matt’s mind is quite mature for his 11-year-old body, as he questions his faith in the same religion that condemns his mother’s relationship with her partner. After being neglected at a young age by his birth parents, 11-year-old Graham struggles with reading and schoolwork while his adoptive family tries to build a new life in Fiji. In a country where same-sex relationships are often frowned upon, Graham tries to understand why he should not lie about eating his lunch, but his two dads must lie about their relationship, in order to be accepted into their new culture.
What is refreshing about Gayby Baby is that the audience gets to see each family on both good days and bad, working through real-life problems that all families can relate to on some level. Nothing is candy-coated or dramatized. Although the main subjects in the film are linked together by their same-sex parents, their individual struggles would be relevant regardless of their social upbringing. At the end of the day, the vibrant, intelligent personalities of these kids would still make for an interesting film.
In a discussion following the film’s screening, the first thought expressed by an audience member was that “kids are smart.” Although the world is becoming more aware of same-sex marriage and LGBTQ+ issues, we don’t often hear from the children involved. Gayby Baby gives those children a voice. These kids are constantly reading the world around them and are able to focus on what is really important in their lives: family.