Sunday night’s (February 24) Oscars 2019 saw a number of winning LGBTQ films and actors. Titles like Green Book, Bohemian Rhapsody, The Favorite, and A Star is Born took home numerous awards.
Green Book won best picture, best original screenplay, and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali, who portrayed black jazz pianist Don Shirley. The film tells the story of the friendship between Shirley and his white driver in the 60s. Shirley is depicted as having a same-sex relationship in the movie.
Olivia Colman won best actress for her character Queen Anne in The Favorite, a lesbian comedy-drama. Queer icon Lady Gaga and A Star is Born took home best original song for “Shallow.”
Finally, the biggest winner of the night was Bohemian Rhapsody, which took home a whopping grand total of four awards: best film editing, best sound editing, best sound mixing, and best actor, which went to Rami Malek for his portrayal of queer Queen front man Freddie Mercury.
“I think to anyone struggling… we made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life just unapologetically himself,” Malek said while accepting his award. “The fact that I’m celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we’re longing for stories like this.”