Netflix Greenlights Stand Out Documentary on LGBTQ+ Stand-Up Comedy

Netflix has greenlit a new documentary about LGBTQ+ stand-up comedy titled Stand Out: The Documentary. The announcement comes after the premiere of Stand Out: An LGBTQ+ Celebration, the largest-ever gathering of LGBTQ+ stand-up comics in one special, which dropped Thursday on Netflix.

Premiering later in 2022, Stand Out: The Documentary examines the history of LGBTQ stand-up comedy and features many of the same comedians who participated in the stand-up special, including Billy Eichner, Rosie O'Donnell, Wanda Sykes, and Tig Notaro. The film will include original performances, interviews, archival materials, and backstage footage, covering themes of activism, diversity in stand-up, and queer culture, according to a statement from Netflix.

"The groundbreaking film considers the importance of LGBTQ stand-up as an instrument for social progress over the past five decades, changing the world one joke at a time," said Netflix.

The documentary comes after Netflix's recent controversies with Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais' stand-up specials, which featured transphobic and anti-LGBTQ jokes. Eichner and Mae Martin addressed the controversy in their Stand Out sets, with Eichner saying, "They're trying to dehumanize trans people. They're trying to erase trans people. And I'm not even talking about Florida. I'm talking about Dave Chappelle's latest Netflix special!"

Deena ElGenaidi's writing has been featured in Nylon, MTV News, Insider, The AV Club, and more. You can follow her on Twitter @deenaelg.