Out At Work

Can you be fired because of who you sleep with?
by
Year Released
2000
Film Length(s)
56 mins
Remote video URL

Introduction

In 1992 Cheryl Summerville, a cook at a Cracker Barrel restaurant in Georgia, received a termination paper stating she was fired for "failing to demonstrate normal heterosexual values." She was shocked to discover that in more than 40 states it was legal to fire workers for their sexual orientation. Out At Work chronicles the stories of three workers who seek workplace safety, job security and benefits for gay and lesbian workers. Also on this DVD: Out At Work: America Undercover, an HBO special featuring the shocking story of a stock trader's harassment at Cantor Fitzgerald. Both versions of this classic documentary include 2009 updates.

Featured review

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.
Sarah Chinn
Professor of English, Hunter College (CUNY)

Reviews

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 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 and Screenings

Broadcast, HBO, 2000
Sundance Film Festival, 1997
Cine Gold Eagle, 2000
Best Documentary of the Year, GLAAD, 2000
Gold Apple, National Educational Media Network, 2000

Promotional Material

Promotional Stills

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