The Out List

Last night I watched HBO's The Out List. It was a series of interviews of prominent openly gay people, including a number of celebrities. One interview followed the other, presented as monologues, without the voice of the questioner.

The cumulative effect was of a proud panorama of LGBT identities, perspectives and experiences. The 60 minute documentary got a lot in -- the trans experience, the early drag queens, AIDS, marriage equality, etc. But I also felt like it glossed over these things, not really contextualizing the importance of pre- and post-Stonewall, pre- and post- AIDS, pre- and post- Ellen. These were important social and political moments that make the fact that we can have a glossy mainstream documentary of out celebrities possible. Yes, these things were touched on, but not brought forward. For instance, one person talks a bit about ACT-UP. But takes knowing what it was for granted. As a college professor I know that many young people watching will have no clue what ACT-UP was, no clue about Stonewall. No clue about how important it was when Ellen's character came out...

Of course, The Out List is not intended as a history of the gay movement. It is more of an extended "It Will Get Better" campaign, offering an array proud, happy, well adjusted and successful role models for younger people, and reminding everyone how far gay visibility has come in recent decades. It isn't a bad documentary, but it has more of the feel of a long public service announcement...