2019 Oscar Nominations Are Queerest Ever

Oscar nominations are here and they are queer AF.

Oscar nominations are here and they are queer AF. Of the eight movies nominated for Best Picture, five include LGBTQ storylines, including A Star Is Born, The Favourite, Bohemian Rhapsody, Vice, and Green Book. GLAAD, an LGTBQ advocacy group, reports that this year’s Oscar nominations list is the most queer-inclusive ever.

The Favourite, a dark comedy that depicts a lesbian love triangle in the early 18th Century—between Britain’s Queen Anne and two court rivals—received a whopping ten nominations and tied with Roma for the most nominations of the year.  Likewise, Can You Ever Forgive Me? (written by gay screenwriter Jeff Whitty) was nominated for Best Adapted Screenplay and received Best Actress and Best Supporting Actor nominations for Melissa McCarthy and Richard E. Grant, both of whom played queer characters in the film.

Lesser known films were recognized in the nomination process as well.  Marguerite, which includes queer elements, was nominated for Best Live Action Short Film. And on the individual level, LBGTQ nominees include Marc Shaiman, nominated for Best Original Song in The Place Where Lost Things Go, and Scott Wittman, both nominated for Best Original Song in Mary Poppins Returns.

“Today’s list of Oscar nominees reflect a banner year for LGBTQ inclusion in film and a signal that the Academy and its members are rightfully prioritizing diverse storytelling at a time when audiences and critics alike are calling for more,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis in a statement. “The diversity across the full list of nominations should be celebrated and will no doubt lead to more inclusive, culture-changing films. The majority of the LGBTQ-inclusive films highlight the stories of LGBTQ people throughout history showing that LGBTQ people and issues have always existed and that now is the time to tell these powerful and moving stories.”

Films including queer stories have won Best Picture for the last two years, with Moonlight taking the win in 2017 and The Shape Of Water winning in 2018.  Now, 2019 looks to be a banner year for queer wins across the many categories. The winners will be announced at the 2019 Academy Awards ceremony on February 24.

 


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