Parents' Guide to

The Out List

By Melissa Camacho, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Poignant LGBTQ docu highlights respect, acceptance.

TV HBO Educational 2013
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The poignant and sometimes humorous interviews offer first-hand accounts of the difficulties individuals face when coming to terms with their sexual orientation, as well as the efforts they made -- and continue to make -- to protect themselves from ridicule, discrimination, and even violence as a result of living publicly as a member of the LGBTQ community. The documentary also highlights the various cultural, religious, political, and economic ramifications of choosing to live openly, and underscores the failure of American federal laws to protect them.

Some folks will be surprised by what they learn here, like the role that drag queens historically played in the fight for gay rights, and the diversity that exists within the LGBTQ culture. Viewers might even be taken back by the discrimination that exists within the community, too. But The Out List's overall themes are clear: People should be allowed to live visibly as who they are without being fearful, and all human beings deserve to be validated and respected.

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