I discovered this issue while working on #8065

Test
Login as superuser in admin.
Create an articles category "TESTROOT" with no parent (issue would be the same issue for tags and menu items).
Create a "SUB-TEST-ROOT-1" with "TESTROOT" as parent.
Unpublish "TESTROOT" =>result is that "SUB-TEST-ROOT-1" is also unpublished.

Now create a "user1" as administrator. Logout from superuser and login with that new "user1".
Edit "SUB-TEST-ROOT-1" and do NOT save.
Close browser window.
"SUB-TEST-ROOT-1" is now checked-out.

Reload main administrator view. You are still logged as "user1".
Logout and now login as superuser.
Display the content categories list view.
You should get something like this:

Now try to publish "TESTROOT" in the list.

Expected Result
"TESTROOT" should be published and "SUB-TEST-ROOT-1" should remain unpublished and checked-out (because it is checked out, its publish state can't be changed).

Result
"TESTROOT" is not published.