Ariana DeBose Makes Oscar History & More From 2022 Academy Awards

Ariana DeBose made history last night at the 94th annual Academy Awards winning a Best Actress in a Supporting Role statue for her powerful performance as ‘Anita’ in Steven Spielberg’s West Side Story. The win makes DeBose the first out queer woman of color to win an acting Oscar. In her moving speech she not only acknowledged the legendary Rita Moreno, who was the first Latina to win an Oscar for her own turn as ‘Anita’ in the original WSS film, but DeBose also gave a nod to how finding the arts helped save her as a young, queer person of color.

“Imagine this little girl in the back seat of a white Ford Focus. When you look into her eyes, you see an openly queer woman of color, an Afro Latina, who found her strength in life through art. And that’s what I believe we’re here to celebrate…”

“So to anybody who’s ever questioned your identity ever, ever, ever or you find yourself living in the gray spaces, I promise you this: There is indeed a place for us.”

Leading up to the Oscars, Ariana DeBose had already garnered a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild award and British Academy Film Award for her star turn. https://youtu.be/kqeXEgZO_II I spent most of the evening pulling for my favorite film of the year, CODA, which was nominated in three categories including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, and Best Adapted Screenplay. AND THE FILM WON ALL THREE!!! Troy Kotsur, one of the film’s three Deaf actors, plays the father and husband of a family where he, his wife and son are all deaf. Emilia Jones, plays his hearing daughter, who has to find a balance between helping connect her family to the rest of the world and giving space to the joy she finds in singing. The entire cast’s performances were all top-shelf, but Kotsur’s turn as a father who has to learn to understand his daughter’s passion – a passion he can’t experience – is a revelation. The film’s director, Siân Heder, wasn’t nominated in the Directing category but she did win for Best Adapted Screenplay. I’ve watched the film at least four times now. If you haven’t seen it yet, it’s available on Apple TV+. https://youtu.be/H4Gu0kQV5gU https://youtu.be/2ejYZEVHy2k https://youtu.be/38p4nX-PWlU Also during the telecast, Best Actress winner Jessica Chastain gave a shoutout to the LGBTQ community in her acceptance speech.

“Right now we are coming out of some difficult times that have been filled with love, trauma, and isolation. And so many people out there feel hopelessness, and they feel alone, and suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S. It’s touched many families. It’s touched mine and especially members of the LGBT community, who often feel out of place with their peers.

We’re faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us. There is violence and hate crimes being perpetrated on innocent civilians all over the world. And in times like this, I think of Tammy, and I’m inspired by her radical acts of love… I’m inspired by her compassion and I see it as a guiding principle that helps us forward.

For any of you out there who do feel hopeless or alone, I just want you to know that you are unconditionally loved for the uniqueness that is you.”

https://youtu.be/4Rso0yrwO2s Finally, props to the evenings three hosts – Regina Hall, Amy Schumer and Wanda Sykes – who were pretty funny all night long. Here’s their welcome sequence which ends with Wanda promising the audience a great night (5:13 mark), and for the people in Florida (which just passed the infamous ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill) “We’re going to have a GAY night!” #GayGayGay https://youtu.be/RLERZgAO2xQ For a list of all of last night’s winners, click over to the Oscars official website.