After all the hubbub about Kevin Hart not hosting the Oscars over his old homophobic “jokes,” last night proved one of the queerest Academy Awards of all time. Here are five queer moments that stood out:
1) Billy Porter and Shangela absolutely slayed the red carpet.
The Pose actor and Drag Race all-star both served fashion for the gawds (though we have no idea how Porter sat down in that huge hoop skirt of his).
When you come to the Oscars, you must dress up. Thanks @CSiriano for creating this custom couture masterpiece. @OscarHeymanBros you have outdone yourselves with your iconic jewels. Style by @sammyratelle Grooming by Anna Bernabe. @TheAcademy #AcademyAwards2019 #oscars #oscars2019 pic.twitter.com/IpTG2OK20x
— Billy Porter (@theebillyporter) February 24, 2019
HAL. LE. LOO. ? @itsshangela and @JeniferLewis winning before the #Oscars even start with this next level red carpet stunt in custom @DiegoMontoya3D ? @TheAcademy pic.twitter.com/APhrvsXFyH
— World of Wonder (@WorldOfWonder) February 24, 2019
2) A gay musician kicked off the show with a tribute to a bisexual rocker.
?? ?
?? ?@QueenWillRock + @adamlambert ROCKED this #Oscars opening! pic.twitter.com/2g1QattacB— ABC (@ABCNetwork) February 25, 2019
Adam Lambert delivered as Queen’s frontman in their opening tribute to bisexual rocker Freddie Mercury. Together they performed “We Will Rock You” and “We Are the Champions,” a nod to the Mercury biopic Bohemian Rhapsody being up for a few awards.
3) Three straight actors won Oscars for playing queer roles.
Olivia Colman won Best Actress for playing Anne, Queen of Great Britain in the lesbian love triangle The Favourite; Mahershala Ali won Best Supporting Actor for playing gay/bi jazz pianist Dr. Don Shirley in Green Book; and Rami Malek won Best Actor for playing bi rock star Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. (Which is great, but can we get a queer actor up onstage?)
Colman’s candid, meandering speech also proved one of the night’s most charming and sincere moments.
YAAAAS, SHE DID IT!
Olivia’s Oscars acceptance speech is all kinds of feels??? #OliviaColman pic.twitter.com/YyypW9rj1u
— Olivia Colman (@OliviaColmanTV) February 25, 2019
4) Bisexual rocker Lady Gaga won Best Song (and Bette Midler popped in too).
Gaga won Best Song for “Shallow” in A Star Is Born which she performed onstage with co-star Bradley Cooper, making her one of the first openly bi stars to win an Oscar. And if that wasn’t queer enough, Bette Midler popped in to perform “The Place Where Lost Things Go” from Mary Poppins Returns.
Missed the #Oscars last night? Then you NEED to see #LadyGaga and #BradleyCooper's "Shallow" performance. https://t.co/5KdoXP6voR pic.twitter.com/8b63srG5TE
— InStyle (@InStyle) February 25, 2019
Practically perfect in every way! @BetteMidler performed "Where The Lost Things Go" from #MaryPoppinsReturns at the #Oscars! pic.twitter.com/omqEtdJj3Q
— ABC (@ABCNetwork) February 25, 2019
5) Four queer-ish films won big awards (including the biggest of the night).
Can’t stop looking at the group of people collecting the Best Picture Oscar for Green Book, a film about racism in the South. pic.twitter.com/4NBNit588I
— Freddie Campion (@FreddieCampion) February 25, 2019
In addition to the awards snagged by The Favorite and Bohemian Rhapsody, Regina King won Best Actress for her role in If Beale Street Could Talk, an adaptation of a novel by gay writer James Baldwin; and Green Book won Best Film, though it has been criticized for buying into problematic “white savior” tropes, and the family of the real-life man it’s based on has also called the film “hurtful” and a “symphony of lies.”
Bob LaBlah
I am so happy little Brenda (Regina King) won. As to be expected Spike Lee went on and on about…..well, lets just say Spike was Spike and to be honest his past homophobia far outweighs Kevin Hart’s. Don’t believe me? Find author James Earl Hardy and ask him about Spike Lee’s homophobia. He insulted James so bad James retaliate by writing a very revealing book about the little loud mouthed midget.
@HarryB
Really agree with you about Regina King. She is really awesome
Esscourt
I’ve loved her since “227.”
PoetDaddy
You know, when writing about homophobia you might want to check your use of the phrase “loud-mouthed midget,” a construction which is clearly offensive. (I put the missing hyphen in for you.)
Bob LaBlah
@ol’ PoetDaddy
Ok, so whats your point?
mwhill
Excuse me! I love Lady Gaga but when did she become bi?
Daddy K
She revealed early on in her career of her attractions and past female relationships.
LetsGetLit
All female celebrities are required to identify as bisexual just as all male celebrities must identify as straight; its the unofficial industry standard.
Wicked Dickie
Freddie Campion’s (last picture in article) tweet sums up this entire Hollywood culture.
crowebobby
All Spike’s awards are of the “he speaks so well” variety. He’s a mediocre film maker whose first film was good “for a student”; the rest have been praised because he’s black. Reminds me of John Singleton saying: “… seems like when you’re black you have to be ten times more better [slc]…” A quote they don’t include on his Wikipedia page.
Bob LaBlah
I’ve always thought the same thing about his movies but some one is paying to see them else he would have gone the way of the dodo long ago. Another thing I thought interesting was the number of names credited with is but yet he was the one who picked up the oscar.
Blackceo
Spike Lee is making movies for a specific audience, who appreciates them as art that speaks to who he is making movies for.
Bryguyf69
I never forgave Spike Lee for his shocking racism when promoting, “Do the Right Thing.”. He insisted that all his interviewers be black and refused all interviews with non-black journalists (at least in the US). That’s like Trump’s preference for FOX. Too bad Anderson Cooper frequently uses Lee as an expert on race relations. I have yet to hear anything intelligent or insightful from Lee on the subject
Esscourt
I’m sorry, but Billy Porter in a dress? If you want to be prom queen, please do it somewhere more appropriate.
OzJosh
From Cher’s massive feathered head-dress to Bjork’s swan outfit, the Oscars have always been a place for outlandish and outrageous costumes. It’s showbiz, people!!! So where better to break with conventions and be daring? Porters’ outfit was also brilliant on several other levels. First, he’s in a show called Pose that is all about gender-bending, costumes and questioning what is masculine/feminine? So why not promote his own show. Second, his intention was to break out of the narrow confines of what is usual male formal attire – the boring tuxedo. And about time too. Nobody is making YOU wear a dress to a formal occasion. But a lot of men would like the option of not wearing the dreary monkey suit. Nobody raises an eyebrow if a woman wear’s “a man’s suit”; why should this be any different?
Bob LaBlah
Aw, come on. I thought girl looked cute in it twirling around and around. And those pants underneath were just the end. And if you noticed the person with girl signed her off once it was clear she (girl) was taking the show.
Brian
Usually I’m rolling my eyes big time at men who think they’re so edgy and interesting because they wore a skirt (ala Jaden Smith). But I think Billy Porter’s look is awesome as hell. When one of your iconic roles was playing a drag queen, you’ve earned the right to wear a big ass ball gown skirt to the Oscars.
Bryguyf69
“Appropriate”??? What the hell does that mean? Care to show me an official guide to dressing for the Oscars? Duh. Did that gasbag, Mr. Blackwell’s, thankfully-departed soul come back to make you his bitch?
jjose712
Acting is pretend to be someone you are not, so i’m totally ok with straight actors playing gay roles but it would be nice if a prominent gay role (and not only indie ones) is played by a gay actor from time to time.
And i’m all for actors risk a bit on red carpet, but Billy Porter’s look is a big faliure
truthseeker
The guy in the dress looks like the final boss you have to fight in a horror video game and under his dress are probably 8 massive spider legs
Daniel Villarreal
I would play the fugg out of that game.
johnnymcmxxx
Billy Porter’s outfit was the best of the night and he stole the Red Carpet from everyone. And for you “men” who are so offended, you just all need to find your inner woman because your masculinity is looking shaky.
Onecaddy13
Billy Porter stole the show. He SLAYED it , and will go down in history as the best dressed ever. And all the haters, slow down! You know all your life you wanted to wear a dress but didnt have the balls. Let him has his fun. I loved it!!!!!!!