Arts & Entertainment
Oscars recap: Sam Smith is ‘proud gay man’; Leo DiCaprio wins first Oscar
“Spotlight” wins Best Picture, Lady Gaga gives tearful performance

The 88th annual Academy Awards awarded the best in the film industry with a major shout out to the LGBT community by Best Original Song winner Sam Smith, multiple wins for “Mad Max: Fury Road,” Best Picture win for “Spotlight” and a first time Oscar win for Leonardo DiCaprio.
Smith, along with co-writer Jimmy Napes, won for Best Original Song for the “Spectre” theme song “Writing’s on the Wall.” He used his speech to acknowledge the LGBT community.
“I read an article a few months ago by Sir Ian McKellen and he said that no openly gay man had ever won an oscar,” Smith said. “And if this is the case, even if it isn’t the case, I want to dedicate this to the LGBT community all around the world. I stand here tonight as a proud gay man and I hope we can all stand together as equals one day.”
In fact, Smith now joins the group of gay men who have won Oscars including Elton John, George Cukor, Alan Ball and Dustin Lance Black.
Host Chris Rock brought the comic relief while discussing the serious #OscarsSoWhite controversy during his opening monologue.
“You’re damn right Hollywood is racist. But it ain’t that racist that you’ve grown accustomed to. Hollywood is sorority racist. It’s like, ‘We like you Rhonda, but you’re not a Kappa,'” Rock quipped at the start of the awards.
Stacey Dash appeared on stage to a confused audience to wish America a Happy Black History Month. Dash has been vocal in the past about wishing to abolish Black History Month and the BET Awards.
Poking fun at the lack of diversity in the show continued with a spoof on what the Oscars would look like starring black people. Tracey Morgan appeared as Eddie Redmayne’s role of Einar Wegener in “The Danish Girl” “The Martian” and “Joy” were also given the diversity treatment with Rock and Whoopi Goldberg.
Leonardo DiCaprio received the first Oscar of his career winning Best Actor for “The Revenant.” He used his on stage time to address climate change, a philanthropy effort DiCaprio has advocated his time towards for years.
“Climate change is real. It’s happening right now,” DiCaprio said in his acceptance speech. “Let us not take this planet for granted. I do not take tonight for granted.”
“Spotlight” won the highest award of the night for Best Picture. Alicia Vikander was awarded Best Supporting Actress for “The Danish Girl.”
“Mad Max: Fury Road” was the top earner of the Oscars, winning six awards including Best Production Design, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, Best Film Editing, Best Makeup and Hairstyling and Best Costume Design.
Lady Gaga gave an emotional performance for her song ‘Til It Happens to You,” co-written by Diane Warren, from the documentary on campus sexual assault “Higher Ground.” Vice President Joe Biden introduced the rousing performance. Accompanied by a string orchestra, Lady Gaga played the piano eventually joined on stage by fellow sexual assault survivors leading to a standing ovation at the Dolby Theatre.
Best Picture: “Spotlight”
Director: Alejandro G. Iñárritu for “The Revenant”
Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio for “The Revenant”
Actress: Brie Larson for “Room”
Supporting Actor: Mark Rylance for “Bridge of Spies”
Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander for “The Danish Girl”
Adapted Screenplay: “The Big Short” by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay
Original Screenplay: “Spotlight” by Josh Singer and Tom McCarthy
Cinematography: Emmanuel Lubezki for “The Revenant”
Foreign Language Film: “Son of Saul”
Animated Feature: “Inside Out”
Documentary Feature: “Amy”
Documentary Short Subject: “A Girl in the River: The Price of Forgiveness”
Live Action Short Film: “Stutterer”
Original Score: “The Hateful Eight” by Ennio Morricone
Photos
PHOTOS: Helen Hayes Awards
Gay Men’s Chorus, local drag artists have featured performance at ceremony

The 41st Helen Hayes Awards were held at The Anthem on Monday, May 19. Felicia Curry and Mike Millan served as the hosts.
A performance featuring members of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington and local drag artists was held at the end of the first act of the program to celebrate WorldPride 2025.
The annual awards ceremony honors achievement in D.C.-area theater productions and is produced by Theatre Washington.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)



























2025 D.C. Trans Pride was held at Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library on Saturday, May 17. The day was filled with panel discussions, art, social events, speakers, a resource fair and the Engendered Spirit Awards. Awardees included Lyra McMillan, Pip Baitinger, Steph Niaupari and Hayden Gise. The keynote address was delivered by athlete and advocate Schuyler Bailar.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)











a&e features
Looking back at 50 years of Pride in D.C
Washington Blade’s unique archives chronicle highs, lows of our movement

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of LGBTQ Pride in Washington, D.C., the Washington Blade team combed our archives and put together a glossy magazine showcasing five decades of celebrations in the city. Below is a sampling of images from the magazine but be sure to find a print copy starting this week.

The magazine is being distributed now and is complimentary. You can find copies at LGBTQ bars and restaurants across the city. Or visit the Blade booth at the Pride festival on June 7 and 8 where we will distribute copies.
Thank you to our advertisers and sponsors, whose support has enabled us to distribute the magazine free of charge. And thanks to our dedicated team at the Blade, especially Photo Editor Michael Key, who spent many hours searching the archives for the best images, many of which are unique to the Blade and cannot be found elsewhere. And thanks to our dynamic production team of Meaghan Juba, who designed the magazine, and Phil Rockstroh who managed the process. Stephen Rutgers and Brian Pitts handled sales and marketing and staff writers Lou Chibbaro Jr., Christopher Kane, Michael K. Lavers, Joe Reberkenny along with freelancer and former Blade staffer Joey DiGuglielmo wrote the essays.

The magazine represents more than 50 years of hard work by countless reporters, editors, advertising sales reps, photographers, and other media professionals who have brought you the Washington Blade since 1969.
We hope you enjoy the magazine and keep it as a reminder of all the many ups and downs our local LGBTQ community has experienced over the past 50 years.
I hope you will consider supporting our vital mission by becoming a Blade member today. At a time when reliable, accurate LGBTQ news is more essential than ever, your contribution helps make it possible. With a monthly gift starting at just $7, you’ll ensure that the Blade remains a trusted, free resource for the community — now and for years to come. Click here to help fund LGBTQ journalism.




