2023 was a great year for LGBTQ+ actors, directors, writers, films, and characters. While this year’s Oscar nominees didn’t include everyone we were hoping to see, let’s celebrate this year’s well deserved LGBTQ+ Oscar nominations.
Billie Eilish, Nominated for Best Original Song for ‘What Was I Made For’
The live action Barbie movie was nominated for eight Oscars (unfortunately, Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig did not receive nominations). Billie Eilish, who recently came out, is nominated for Best Original Song for ‘What Was I Made For’, competing against Ryan Gosling’s ‘I’m Just Ken.’ America Ferrera received her first-ever nomination for Best Supporting Actress, likely for her moving speech that brought audiences to tears and to their feet.
Lily Gladstone, Nominated for Best Actress
Lily Gladstone, a queer Native American actress, received a nomination for Best Actress for her performance in Killers of the Flower Moon. This is the first time a Native American has ever been nominated for this category.
Annette Bening, Nominated for Best Actress
Annette Bening has been nominated for her portrayl of lesbian long-distance swinner Diana Nyad, the first person to ever swim from Cuba to Florida. The biopic Nyad also starrted lesbian icon Jodie Foster, who was also nominated.
Jodie Foster, Nominated for Best Supporting Actress
As mentioned, Jodie Foster co-starred in Nyad, playing Bonnie Stoll, who was Nyad’s best friend and swim coach. This is Foster’s fifth nomination and could potentially be her third win.
Maestro, 7 Nominations
Maestro, a film about the life of Leonard Bernstein, who was known for his bisexuality, was both directed and headlined by Bradley Cooper. This biographical movie garnered significant recognition at the 2024 Oscars, securing nominations in several categories including Best Picture, Best Actor for Bradley Cooper, Best Actress for Carey Mulligan, Original Screenplay by Bradley Cooper and Josh Singer, as well as Best Cinematography, Best Makeup and Hairstyling, and Best Sound.
Colman Domingo, Nominated for Best Actor
Colman Domingo starred as Bayard Rustin, an openly gay civil rights activist who was MLK Jr.’s close advisor, in the biopic Rustin. Domingo is only the second openly gay actor to earn an Oscar nomination for playing a gay character and the first Afro-Latino actor to receive a nomination for Best Actor.
Nimona, Nominated for Best Animated Feature Film
Nimona, an LGBTQ+-inclusive animated film based on the graphic novel on the same name, was nominated for Best Animated Feature Film. The show stars LGBTQ+ actors Eugene Lee Yang and Chloë Grace Moretz.
American Fiction, 5 Nominations
American Fiction, a film based on the 2001 novel Erasure by Percival Everett, earned 5 nominations. Sterling K. Brown, who played a gay character, earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Queer composer Laura Karpman was also nominated for Best Original Score.
Anatomy of a Fall, 5 Nominations
Anatomy of a Fall, which centers around a bisexual main character, received five nominations. These include Best Picture, Best Director (Justine Triet), Best Actress (Sandra Hüller), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.
The ABCs of Book Banning, Nominated for Best Documentary Short Film
The ABCs of Book Banning was a short film that followed the banning of LGBTQ+ books in schools. It has been nominated for Best Documentary Short Film.
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