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In case you’ve been living under a Rock…the Oscars happened on Sunday, and we’re here to talk about a historical moment for the LGBTQ+ community.
As you may know, the Oscars are one of the biggest nights for movies—and this year, we saw a resurgence of queer representation. Wanda Sykes, an out-lesbian, co-hosted the event with Amy Schumer and Regina Hall; Kristen Stewart, who was nominated for her performance as Princess Diana, attended the event with her same-sex partner, and Elliot Page made their first award show appearance since coming out as transgender. Plus, Jessica Chastain, an LGBT ally also expressed her love and support for the LGBTQ community as she accepted her award for her role as the outspoken gay rights supporter, Tammy Faye.
But one of the biggest highlights of the night was, of course, Ariana DeBose winning the Best Support Actress Award, becoming the first openly queer woman of colour to win at the Oscars.
Ariana played Anita in the 2021 revival of West Side Story, and in her acceptance speech, spoke about her momentous win: “You see an openly queer woman of colour, an Afro-Latina, who found her strength in life through art. And that is, I think, what we’re here to celebrate.”
She also paid homage to the original Anita, Rita Morena, who also won an Academy Award for playing the same character back in 1962 (exactly 60 years ago!)
This was a huge moment for the LGBTQ+ community in terms of queer visibility and Afro-Latin representation. Although the Oscars has had a history of overlooking some very talented, well-deserved filmmakers and performers who are part of a minority group, we hope that Ariana’s win will be a stepping-stone for more inclusivity in entertainment.
Ariana is the true epitome of embracing your true self and living an authentic life. Our mission as an LGBT brand is to celebrate the achievements of queer folks across in all sectors of life, in the hopes that we can continue to build a better world for everyone. No matter how you choose to express your queer identity, whether it’s out and proud, or quietly, just know that there is always a place for you and your passions.
Ariana said it best during her acceptance speech: “To anybody who has ever questioned your identity or you find yourself living in the grey spaces, I promise you this: There is indeed a place for us.”
