Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Docu about acceptance provides a snapshot in LGBTQ+ history.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 12+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Out List
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
From the creators of The Black List and The Latino List comes THE OUT LIST, a documentary that profiles notable LGBTQ+ leaders in the United States. Actors like Cynthia Nixon and Neil Patrick Harris, comedians like Wanda Sykes and Ellen DeGeneres, and activists like author Janet Mock discuss the emotional challenges they faced before coming out. They also share the triumphs they've experienced after finding the courage to live openly and unapologetically as who they are, as well as the obstacles they continue to face thanks to prevailing social norms and the lack of laws that protect them. Also contributing to the conversation are athletes like Wade Davis, community leaders like Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valdez, musicians like Scissor Sisters' lead singer Jake Shears, politicians like Republican R. Clarke Cooper, financial guru Suze Orman, and HIV/AIDS activist and ACT UP founder Larry Kramer.
Is It Any Good?
The poignant and sometimes humorous interviews offer first-hand accounts of the difficulties individuals face when coming to terms with their sexual orientation and choosing to live openly. The Out List also highlights the various cultural, religious, political, and economic ramifications of being queer in the United States, and underscores the failure of federal laws to protect people in the LGBTQ+ community.
The 2013 documentary certainly captures a moment in time, with its strong focus on same-sex marriage (which was legalized at the federal level two years later). It's also relentlessly aboveboard, sometimes canned, as LGBTQ+ subjects seem to be talking solely to straight people who need to be convinced of their humanity. But The Out List's overall themes are timeless: People should be allowed to live visibly as who they are without being fearful, and all human beings deserve to be validated and respected.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how The Out List captures a snapshot in time during the long fight for LGBTQ+ rights in the United States. What were some of the major issues discussed in the documentary? How are they different, or similar to, the challenges surrounding queer people today?
What are some of the stereotypes about LGBTQ+ people featured in the media? What is the impact of these generalizations? Is there a difference between the way queer characters were portrayed in films and TV shows 30 years ago and the way they are portrayed today?
How does The Out List promote compassion, integrity, and empathy? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : June 27, 2013
- Cast : Cynthia Nixon , Ellen DeGeneres , Neil Patrick Harris
- Network : HBO
- Genre : Educational
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Empathy , Integrity
- TV rating :
- Last updated : July 19, 2025
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