“Gaybies” are children with parents who are in a same-sex relationship. Gus was made with the help of a sperm donor and is the child of two lesbians. Ebony and Matt come from a straight family who separated with a mother who is now seeing women, and Graham lives with his adoptive gay father because his biological family neglected him so severely that he couldn’t speak at age 5. Director Maya Newell, who is a “gayby” herself, asks these children how they feel about their family constellation. She accompanies the four in the stage between childhood and adulthood, long enough to be able to understand their individual developments. It is quickly apparent that their main problems aren’t the relationship with their parents – though the discrimination their families face does take a toll on them of course. We see the difficult dynamics when it comes to finding one’s identity and the familial imprints that are unavoidable in queer families as well when Ebony wants to be a singer but is too shy to get on stage, when Matt wants to be playing football rather than go to Sunday service, when Graham struggles with learning to read, or when Gus has to justify wild wrestling to his peaceful parents,. Every family is unique and has to find ways to live together and grow together in the face of challenges. A trouble-free family life is an illusion for straight people as well. Despite this, the film wants to express a strong belief in living as a family.

Anna Stemmler

Translation: Elinor Lewy