Word Is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives 1977/2010
Distributed by Milestone Films & Video, PO Box 128, Harrington Park, NJ 07640-0128; 800-603-1104
Produced by Peter Adair
Directed by Peter Adair and Mariposa Film Group
DVD, color, 133 min.
Sr. High - Adult
Gay and Lesbian Studies, Gender Studies, Sociology
Date Entered: 08/27/2010
ALA Notable: ala.gif
Reviewed by Kim Stanton, University of North Texas Libraries
As the nation focuses its eyes on California to determine where the fight for gay rights goes from here, the seminal documentary on gay identity, Word Is Out: Stories of Some of Our Lives, celebrates its 30th anniversary with a newly restored edition.
The film centers around 26 individuals who are interviewed about their lives and feelings of personal identity as gay men and women living in the US in the 1970’s. The group interviewed contains a diverse mix of age, race, gender, regional and religious perspectives. The second part of the film’s title, Stories of Some of Our Lives, nicely summarizes an important point the film strives to make – sexual preference does not dictate personal views on religion, family, politics, or parenthood. This film contains the stories of individuals and is not an attempt to comprehensively define a gay identity.
Thinking about the 30 year gap between the original interviews and present day, it’s almost shocking to see how much is the same and, conversely, how much has changed. Several of the interviewees discuss the psychological treatments and electroshock therapy they received because of their sexuality. Others interviewed talked about their prior straight marriages and children, as well as the effects coming out had on their families. The personal stories range far and wide and touch on issues such as gays in the military, race relations, gender constructs, dressing in drag, bisexuality, religion, infidelity, passing as straight and first sexual experiences.
The film’s impact in a historical sense can’t be overlooked. Word Is Out was the first feature length documentary about gay and lesbian identity to be filmed and told from the perspective of gay filmmakers. The DVD contains several bonus features that focus on the filmmakers, the Mariposa Film Group, and allows them to reflect on their experience working together on a film that deeply affected the gay community and the culture at large.
This film is highly recommended for gay & lesbian studies and recommended for inclusion in all higher education film collections.