Arts & Entertainment
‘Moonlight’ is first LGBT film to win Best Picture after ‘La La Land’ mix-up
PricewaterhouseCoopers apologizes for critical mistake


(‘Moonlight’ wins Best Picture after Oscars flub. Photo via Twitter.)
After the biggest mistake in Academy Awards history “Moonlight” won Best Picture, making it the first LGBT film to win the category, after a surprise mix-up that initially gave its awards show rival “La La Land” the honor.
Presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty, who were reunited on stage in honor of the 50th anniversary of their film “Bonnie and Clyde,” announced the winner at the end of the more than three-hour long ceremony. Beatty opened the envelope and after checking the envelope twice, causing the crowd to chuckle, handed it over to Dunaway who announced “La La Land.”
While the cast and crew of “La La Land’ began giving their acceptance speeches, a stage hand could be seen running out to check the envelopes. “La La Land” producer Jordan Horowitz then took the correct piece of paper from Beatty’s hands and declared to the “Moonlight” cast, “You guys won Best Picture. This is not a joke.”
Beatty explained to the crowd that when he double-checked the envelope he wasn’t trying to be funny but was confused when he saw Emma Stone and “La La Land” written on the paper.
“I blame myself,” Jimmy Kimmel, who hosted the 89th annual Academy Awards, joked to the crowd.
“Very clearly, very clearly, even in my dreams, this could not be true,” Jenkins said after the “La La Land” team left the stage and “Moonlight” finally received its recognition. “āBut to hell with dreams, Iām done with it, because this is true.”
I’m dead at this whole thing ?? #Oscars pic.twitter.com/3qN7Z9zdNL
ā Funny Vines (@FunnyVines) February 27, 2017
U.K.-based accountancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, which has handled the Oscars’ ballot-counting for 83 years and manages “all aspects” of the voting process, apologized in a statement, CNN reports.
“We sincerely apologize to ‘Moonlight,’ ‘La La Land,’ Warren Beatty, Faye Dunaway, and Oscar viewers for the error that was made during the award announcement for Best Picture,” the statement reads. “The presenters had mistakenly been given the wrong category envelope and when discovered, was immediately corrected. We are currently investigating how this could have happened, and deeply regret that this occurred.”
“Moonlight” already had a decent winning streak from earlier in the night. Barry Jenkins received Best Adapted Screenplay along withĀ Tarell Alvin McCraney, who penned the screenplay “In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue,” for which the film’s script was based. Mahershala Ali also won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Juan making him the first Muslim actor to win an Academy Award.
Other big winners of the night included Best Actor for Casey Affleck’s role in “Manchester by the Sea,” who beat out Ryan Gosling for “La La Land.” Gosling’s co-star Emma Stone took home a golden statue instead for Best Actress.Ā Damien Chazelle also won Best Director for “La La Land” making him the youngest director to win the award at age 32.
Iranian film “The Salesman” won for Best Foreign Film but its director Asghar Farhadi was not present at the ceremony. Farhadi’s opted out of appearing at the show in protest of President Donald Trump’s immigration ban.
For a complete list of winners, visit here.
Best Picture: āMoonlightā
Best Director:Ā Damien Chazelle for āLa La Landā
Best Actor: Casey Affleck for āManchester by the Seaā
Best Actress: Emma Stone for āLa La Landā
Best Supporting Actor: Mahershala AliĀ for āMoonlightā
Best Supporting Actress: Viola Davis for āFencesā
Best Adapted Screenplay: āMoonlightā byĀ Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney
Best Original Screenplay: āManchester by the Seaā byĀ Kenneth Lonergan
Best Cinematography: Linus SandgrenĀ for āLa La Landā
Best Foreign Language Film: āThe Salesmanā
Best Animated Feature: āZootopiaā
Best Documentary Feature: āO.J.: Made in Americaā
Best Original Song: “City of Stars” by Justin Hurwitz
Best Original Score: āLa La Landā by Justin Hurwitz
Arts & Entertainment
Kim Petras and BeyoncƩ make history at the 65th annual Grammys
The 65th annual Grammys served up a night of LGBTQ significance as BeyoncƩ and Kim Petras both make history

The 65th annual GRAMMY Award Ceremonies held Sunday evening at the Crypto.com Arena saw a significant LGBTQ+ presence and wins in several categories including a GRAMMY for Best Solo Pop Duo/Group Performance awarded to Out Trans artist Kim Petras along side nonbinary artist Sam Smith for their song āUnholy.ā
Madonna was on hand to introduce the duo, and in doing so, seemed to shout praise to the entire queer community. āHereās what I have learned after four decades in music. If they call you shocking, scandalous, troublesome, problematic, provocative, orā¦dangerous. You are definitely on to something. So I am here to give thanks to all the rebels out there forging a new path, and taking the heat for all of it. You guys need to know, all you trouble makers out there, you need to know your fearlessness does not go unnoticed, you are seen, you are heard, and most of all you are appreciated.ā
While online chatter seemed obsessed with Madonnaās physical appearance, there is hope her message reached queer teens, currently under the ire of current conservative politics, in the same way the singer elevated HIV positive people in the 1980s by not only accepting them, but calling them heroes.

Sam Smith insisted that Kim Petras give their acceptance speech so that she could experience the full effect of being the first transgender woman to receive the award in the Recording Academyās 65 year history.
Petras acknowledged Madonnaās effect as an icon when she said in her acceptance speech, āI want to thank Madonna for always fighting for LGBTQ rights, I would not be here if not for Madonna.ā
She also called out SOPHIE, the transgender Grammy-nominated DJ, producer and recording artist who died in Athens after a tragic accident. āI just want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I could be here tonight. SOPHIE, especially, my friend who passed away two years ago, who told me this would happen and always believed in me. Thank you so much for your inspiration, SOPHIE. I adore you and your inspiration will always be in my music.ā
“I grew up next to a highway in nowhere, Germany, and my mother believed me that I was a girl and I wouldn’t be here without her and her support,” Petras concluded her historic speech. “Sam, thank you, you’re a true angel and hero in my life and I love you. And everyone who made the song, too, I love you guys. Sorry, I didn’t write down the names. I love you.”
Longtime LGBTQ+ ally Harry Styles received a GRAMMY for Album of the Year for his Harryās House. Styles also picked up a GRAMMY win Best Pop Vocal Album for Harryās House. Earlier Styles received a GRAMMY trophy for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical also for Harryās House.
BeyoncĆ©, who was the most nominated artist going into Sunday’s ceremonies, made GRAMMY history breaking the record for the most wins ever by an artist. In her acceptance speech where she mentioned her late uncle who died from HIV/AIDS she acknowledged the queer community for their support and āfor inventing the genreā of dance music, which she honors in her album.
āI’m trying not to be too emotional. I’m trying to just receive this night. I want to thank God for protecting me. Thank you, God. I’d like to thank my uncle Johnny who’s not here, but he’s here in spirit.
I’d like to thank my parents, my father, my mother for loving me and pushing me. I’d like to thank my beautiful husband, my beautiful three Children who are at home watching.
I’d like to thank the queer community for your love, for inventing the genre. God bless you.
Thank you so much to the GRAMMYs. Thank you.ā
She also posted a thank you note on Instagram celebrating the three awards she won earlier in the evening: Best Traditional R&B Performance (āPlastic Off the Sofaā), Best R&B Song (āCuff Itā), and Best Dance/Electronic Recording (āBreak My Soulā).
First Lady Dr. Jill Biden walked on stage during the ceremonies to a standing ovation. GRAMMYs host Trevor Noah, who introduced her, described her as “the only person in the world who knows which of tonight’s songs the President sings in the shower.”
The First Lady presented two awards – the Song of the Year and the new award “Best Song for Social Change.”
Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour won the new social change award. His song Baraye has been described as the anthem of the Mahsa Amini protests in Iran. Biden described the song as a “powerful and poetic call for freedom and women’s rights.”
He was arrested on September 29, 2022 – two days after his song was released on social media – and was released two days later. He is not allowed to leave Iran.
Biden then presented Song of the Year to Just Like That by Bonnie Raitt. She kissed Raitt on the cheek.
Vanessa Valdivia, Press Secretary for Biden told the traveling press pool: āThe First Lady was honored to be asked by the Recording Academy to announce the GRAMMYsā first Social Change award to Shervin Hajipour for his song āBarayeā. As a steadfast champion for women and girls around the world, the First Lady was inspired by his song that served as an anthem for freedom and womenās rights.ā
2023 GRAMMY Award Winners
* Winners in bold
Album of the Year:
Harry Styles ā Harryās House
ABBA ā Voyage
Adele ā 30
Bad Bunny ā Un Verano Sin Ti
BeyoncĆ© ā Renaissance
Mary J. Blige ā Good Morning Gorgeous (Deluxe)
Brandi Carlile ā In These Silent Days
Coldplay ā Music of the Spheres
Kendrick Lamar ā Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
Lizzo ā Special
Song of the Year:
Bonnie Raitt ā āJust Like Thatā
Gayle ā āabcdefuā
Lizzo ā āAbout Damn Timeā
Taylor Swift ā āAll Too Well (10 Minute Version)ā
Harry Styles ā āAs It Wasā
Steve Lacy ā āBad Habitā
BeyoncĆ© ā āBreak My Soulā
Adele ā āEasy On Meā
DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, JAY-Z, John Legend, and Fridayy ā āGod Didā
Kendrick Lamar ā āThe Heart Part 5ā
Record of the Year:
Lizzo ā āAbout Damn Timeā
ABBA ā āDonāt Shut Me Downā
Adele ā āEasy On Meā
BeyoncĆ© ā āBreak My Soulā
Mary J. Blige ā āGood Morning Gorgeousā
Brandi Carlile feat. Lucius ā āYou and Me on the Rockā
Doja Cat ā āWomanā
Steve Lacy ā āBad Habitā
Kendrick Lamar ā āThe Heart Part 5ā
Harry Styles ā āAs It Wasā
Best New Artist:
Samara Joy
Anitta
Omar Apollo
Domi & JD Beck
Muni Long
Latto
MƄneskin
Tobe Nwigwe
Molly Tuttle
Wet Leg
Best Alternative Music Album:
Wet Leg ā Wet Leg
Arcade Fire ā WE
Big Thief ā Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You
Bjƶrk ā Fossora
Yeah Yeah Yeahs ā Cool It Down
Best Alternative Music Performance:
Wet Leg ā āChaise Loungeā
Arctic Monkeys ā āThereād Better Be a Mirrorballā
Big Thief ā āCertainityā
Florence + The Machine ā āKingā
Yeah Yeah Yeahs feat. Perfume Genius ā āSpitting Off the Edge of the Worldā
Best Rock Performance:
Brandi Carlile ā āBroken Horsesā
Bryan Adams ā āSo Happy It Hurtsā
Beck ā āOld Manā
The Black Keys ā āWild Childā
IDLES ā āCrawl!ā
Ozzy Osbourne feat. Jeff Beck ā āPatient Number 9ā
Turnstile ā āHolidayā
Best Rock Song:
Brandi Carlile ā āBroken Horsesā
Red Hot Chili Peppers ā āBlack Summerā
Turnstile ā āBlackoutā
The War on Drugs ā āHarmoniaās Dreamā
Ozzy Osbourne feat. Jeff Beck ā āPatient Number 9ā³
Best Rock Album:
Ozzy Osbourne ā Patient Number 9
The Black Keys ā Dropout Boogie
Elvis Costello & The Imposters ā The Boy Named If
IDLES ā Crawler
Machine Gun Kelly ā Mainstream Sellout
Spoon ā Lucifer on the Sofa
Best Metal Performance:
Ozzy Osbourne feat. Tony Iommi ā āDegradation Rulesā
Ghost ā āCall me Little Sunshineā
Megadeth ā āWeāll Be Backā
Muse ā āKill or Be Killedā
Turnstile ā āBlack Outā
Best Solo Pop Performance:
Adele ā āEasy on Meā
Bad Bunny ā āMoscow Muleā
Doja Cat ā āWomanā
Steve Lacy ā āBad Habitā
Lizzo ā āAbout Damn Timeā
Harry Styles ā āAs It Wasā
DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, JAY-Z, John Legend, and Fridayy ā āGod Didā
Best Solo Pop Duo/Group Performance:
Sam Smith & Kim Petras ā āUnholyā
ABBA ā āDonāt Shut Me Downā
Camila Cabello feat. Ed Sheeran ā āBam Bamā
Coldplay & BTS ā āMy Universeā
Post Malone & Doja Cat ā āI Like You (A Happier Song)ā
Best Pop Vocal Album:
Harry Styles ā Harryās House
ABBA ā Voyage
Adele ā 30
Coldplay ā Music of the Sphere
Lizzo ā Special
Best Dance/Electronic Recording:
BeyoncĆ© ā āBreak My Soulā
Bonobo ā āRosewoodā
Diplo & Miguel ā āDonāt Forget My Loveā
David Guetta & Bebe Rexha ā āIām Good (Blue)ā
Kaytranada feat. H.E.R. ā āIntimidatedā
RĆFĆS DU SOL ā āIntimidatedā
Best Dance/Electronic Album:
BeyoncĆ© ā Renaissance
Bonobo ā Fragments
Diplo ā Diplo
Odesza ā The Last Goodbye
RĆFĆS DU SOL ā Surrender
Best Rap Album:
Kendrick Lamar ā Mr. Morale & the Big Steppers
DJ Khaled ā God Did
Future ā I Never Liked You
Jack Harlow ā Come Home the Kids Miss You
Pusha T ā Itās Almost Dry
Best Rap Song:
Kendrick Lamar ā āThe Heart Part 5ā
Future feat. Drake and Tems ā āWait for Uā
Jack Harlow feat. Drake ā āChurchill Downsā
DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, JAY-Z, John Legend, and Fridayy ā āGod Didā
Gunna and Future feat. Young Thug ā āPushinā Pā
Best Rap Performance:
Kendrick Lamar ā āThe Heart Part 5ā
DJ Khaled feat. Rick Ross, Lil Wayne, JAY-Z, John Legend, and Fridayy ā āGod Didā
Doja Cat ā āVegasā
Gunna & Future feat. Young Thug ā āPushin Pā
Hitkidd & GloRilla ā āF.N.F. (Letās Go)ā
Best Melodic Rap Performance:
Future feat. Drake and Tems ā āWait for Uā
DJ Khaled feat. Future and SZA ā āBeautifulā
Jack Harlow ā āFirst Classā
Kendrick Lamar feat. BLXST and Amanda Reifer ā āDie Hardā
Latto ā āBig Energy (Live)ā
Best MĆŗsica Urbana Album:
Bad Bunny ā Un Verano Sin Ti
Rauw Alejandro ā Trap Cake, Vol. 2
Daddy Yankee ā Legendaddy
Farruko ā LA 167
Maluma ā The Love & Sex Tape
Best Americana Album:
Brandi Carlile ā In These Silent Days
Dr. John ā Things Happen That Way
Kebā Moā ā Good to Beā¦
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss ā Raise the Roof
Bonnie Raitt ā Just Like Thatā¦
Best Comedy Album:
Dave Chappelle ā The Closer
Jim Gaffigan ā Comedy Monster
Randy Rainbow ā A Little Brains, a Little Talent
Louis CK ā Sorry
Patton Oswalt ā We All Scream
Best Music Video:
Taylor Swift ā āAll Too Well: The Short Filmā
Adele ā āEasy on Meā
BTS ā āYet to Comeā
Doja Cat ā āWomanā
Kendrick Lamar ā āThe Heart Part 5ā
Harry Styles ā āAs It Wasā
Best Music Film:
Various Artists ā Jazz Fest: A New Orleans Story
Adele ā Adele One Night Only
Justin Bieber ā Our World
Billie Eilish ā Billie Eilish Live at The O2
RosalĆa ā Motomami (RosalĆa TikTok Live Performance)
Neil Young & Crazy Horse ā A Band A Brotherhood A Barn
Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media:
Germaine Franco ā Encanto
Michael Giacchino ā The Batman
Hans Zimmer ā No Time to Die
Jonny Greenwood ā The Power of the Dog
Nicholas Britell ā Succession: Season 3
Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media:
Encanto
Elvis
Stranger Things: Soundtrack from the Netflix Series, Season 4 (Vol 2)
Top Gun: Maverick
West Side Story
Best Remixed Recording:
Lizzo ā āAbout Damn Time (Purple Disco Machine Remix)ā
BeyoncĆ© ā āBreak My Soul (Terry Hunter Remix)ā
Ellie Goulding āEasy Lover (Four Tet Remix)ā
The Knocks & Dragonette ā āSlow Song (Paul Woolford Remix)ā
Wet Leg -āToo Late Now (Soulwax Remix)ā
Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical:
Harry Styles ā Harryās House
Bayn ā Adolescence
Robert Glasper ā Black Radio III
Father John Misty ā ChloĆ« and the Next 20th Century
Wet Leg ā Wet Leg
Producer of the Year:
Jack Antonoff
Boi-1da
Dernst āDāMileā Emile II
Dahi
Dan Auerbach
Additional reporting by Brody Levesque
****************************************************************************

Rob Watson is the host of the popular Hollywood-based radio/podcast show RATED LGBT RADIO.
He is an established LGBTQ columnist and blogger having written for many top online publications including Parents Magazine, the Huffington Post, LGBTQ Nation, Gay Star News, the New Civil Rights Movement, and more.
He served as Executive Editor for The Good Man Project, has appeared on MSNBC and been quoted in Business Week and Forbes Magazine.
He is CEO of Watson Writes, a marketing communications agency, and can be reached at [email protected] .

Below are our picks for some of the most fun and creative things to do this week in the DMV that are of special interest to the LGBTQ community.
JR.’s Showtunes

Monday, February 6
9 p.m.
JR.’s Bar
1519 17th Street, N.W.
Facebook
Join your friends to belt out your favorite showtunes at the neighborhood LGBTQ venue, JR.’s.
Queer Trivia!

Wednesday, February 8
7 p.m.
The Dew Drop Inn
2810 8 the Street, N.E.
Facebook
The Mistresses lead a game of trivia on all things LGBTQ.
Drag Bingo

Wednesday, February 8
8-11 p.m.
Pitchers DC
2317 18th Street, N.W.
FacebookĀ
Brooklyn Heights hosts free games of bingo at Pitchers on Wednesday.
Ultimate TayTay Party

Friday, February 10
10 p.m.
Songbyrd Music House
540 Penn Street, N.E.
18+ / $25 advance / $30 door
FacebookĀ |Ā Tickets
Show your appreciation for Taylor Swift at a DJ dance party at Songbyrd Music House on Friday.
Cupid’s Undie Run

Saturday, February 11
12 p.m.
Union Stage
740 Water Street, S.W.
$45 for individual tickets
FacebookĀ |Ā Tickets
Raise money for neurofibromatosis research in a fun short run wearing your most festive undies and with a pre-party and afterparty that has become a D.C. staple. While not specifically an LGBTQ event, you will certainly be among many LGBTQ people who participate.
Miguel Espinoza’s Art Exhibition Closing

Saturday, February 11
7-9 p.m.
DC Center for the LGBT Community
2000 14th Street, N.W.
Suite 105
Website
This free event celebrates the work of Miguel Espinoza: “naked unafraid.”
Vanguard Valenties: A Dark Dance Party

Saturday, February 11
9 p.m.
Safari DC Lounge
4306 Georgia Avenue, N.W.
$7
FacebookĀ |Ā Eventbrite
DJs Johnny Panic, Ultra Violet Rah and Villainess entertain at a dark dance party at Safari DC Lounge on Saturday.
Lovers & Friends

Sunday, February 12
10 p.m.
Zebbie’s Garden
1223 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., 3rd Floor
$10-$100
Eventbrite
Davon Hamilton Events and Willieeb World Events present “Lovers & Friends” at Zebbie’s Garden on Sunday with DJ Apollo and DJ Dave Thomm.
Gaga Brunch

Sunday, February 12
12 p.m.
Red Bear Brewing Company
209 M Street, N.E.
$25
FacebookĀ |Ā Eventbrite
Desiree Dik hosts a Lady Gaga-inspired drag brunch on Sunday. Performers include Every Pleasure, Venetian, Sweet Pickles, Mia Vanderbilt and Tip Boy: Pup Indigo.
Doming0’s Got Talent XXXO

Sunday, February 12
7 p.m.
DC9 Nightclub
1940 9th Street, N.W.
21+ / $20
Facebook
Catch a campy drag game and show celebrating the lovers, partners and friends of DMV drag royalty at DC9 Nightclub on Sunday.

Winchester Pride held a drag brunch at 81 Bar & Grill in Frederick County, Va. on Sunday, Feb. 5. Performers included Miss Winchester Pride 2023 Chasity Vain, Candice Candy, Alexa V. Shontelle, Ava Rage and Anita Tension.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
















Covering my local drag show out here in Frederick County, Va. for @WashBlade. @ChasityVain performing for @WincPride at 81 Bar & Grill: pic.twitter.com/fuhfRn12Cb
ā Michael Patrick Key (@MichaelKeyWB) February 5, 2023
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