Browse Films

In 1992 Cheryl Summerville, a cook in a suburban Atlanta restaurant, received a termination paper stating that she was fired for "failing to demonstrate normal heterosexual values." She was shocked to discover that in 47 American states, including her own, it was legal to fire workers simply for being homosexual.

OUT AT WORK chronicles the dramatic stories of three gay workers over the course of five years: Cheryl Summerville, Detroit auto worker Ron Woods, and New York Public Library clerk Nat Keitt. It follows them at home, at work and through their collective fight to secure workplace safety, job security and employee benefits for gay and lesbian workers.

The film also illustrates the struggles of heterosexual co-workers to deal with, and ultimately support, their gay and lesbian peers. In a moving, profound and entertaining style, OUT AT WORK raises critical issues about workplace rights, the role of legislation and labor unions and, ultimately, human rights for all.   56 minutes

Also on this DVD: OUT AT WORK: America Undercover. Based on the original OUT AT WORK, this HBO special focuses on the stories of three workers who were brutally harassed, and in two cases fired, because of their sexual orientation. In addition to Cheryl Summerville and Ron Woods, the program features the story of Mark Anderson, a stock trader at Cantor Fitzgerald, who was ridiculed, sexually harassed, has his car stolen by his superiors and repainted with homophobic slurs, and eventually terminated.  58 minutes

 

Both versions of this classic documentary include 2009 updates.

A close-up of how deeply feelings against homosexuals can still reach and how vicious they can be.
Walter Goodman
New York Times

OUT AT WORK vividly illustrates what happens when LGBT people are not legally protected from employment discrimination. It exposes once and for all the lie that gay people's rights are "special rights" with stories that are both ordinary and inspiring.
Professor Sarah Chinn,
English Department, Hunter College (CUNY)

OUT AT WORK is the single most important organizing tool we have had for our educational work within workplaces and labor unions.
KipuKai Kuali'I, Pride at Work, AFL-CIO

Filled with humor, insight and moving fervor, OUT AT WORK offers a stirring experience for all of us.
Robert Hawk, Sundance Film Festival

OUT AT WORK presents compelling and inspiring stories of common individuals who perform uncommon acts of resistance in the face of discrimination. This film is a great educational and motivational tool for unions everywhere.
Bill Fletcher, Director of Education, AFL-CIO

AWARDS & SCREENINGS:

• Sundance Film Festival

• HBO Cablecast

• Gold Apple Award, National Educational Media Network

• Outstanding Documentary of the Year (Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation - GLAAD)

• Cine Golden Eagle

• Seattle International Film Festival

• Lussas Documentary Festival, France

• Directors Choice Award, Black Maria Film and Video Festival