Arts & Entertainment
‘Green Book,’ Rami Malek and more of the 2019 Oscar winners
Lady Gaga, Olivia Colman round out top honors
The 91st annual Academy Awards became a historic night on Sunday at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles as the golden statues were handed out to first-time winners for both Hollywood newcomers and overdue veterans.
Queen, fronted by singer Adam Lambert, kicked off the show with a melody of Queen songs including “We are the Champions.” The hostless show was sped forward simply by presenters and kicked off with the comedian trio of Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph
“We are not your hosts, but we’re going to stand here a little too long so that the people who get USA Today tomorrow will think we hosted,” Fey joked to the audience.
Soon after, the first major award of the night was given to Regina King for her role in the James Baldwin film adaptation, “If Beale Street Could Talk.” This was King’s first Academy Award win.
King thanked her mother and Barry Jenkins, who also directed Oscar winner “Moonlight.”
“To be standing here representing one of the greatest artists of all time – James Baldwin. James Baldwin bursts this baby and Barry nurtured her, surrounding her with so much love and support. So it’s appropriate to be standing here because I am an example of what it looks like when support and love
Lady Gaga won Best Original Song for “Shallow,” which she passionately performed with her “A Star is Born” co-star Bradley Cooper earlier in the show. The song beat out the popular song “All the Stars” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA from “Black Panther” and “The Place Where Lost Things Go” by Emily Blunt from “Mary Poppins Returns,” which was performed by Bette Midler at the ceremony.
A star is born… ? #Oscars pic.twitter.com/lh0HZ53XrD
— Channel 9 (@Channel9) February 25, 2019
“It’s not about winning,” Lady Gaga says in tearful acceptance speech. “What it’s about is not giving up. If you have a dream, fight for it.” https://t.co/qqMWC8hs2g #Oscars pic.twitter.com/aQuaMgE6ZU
— ABC News (@ABC) February 25, 2019
Backstage, Lady Gaga was asked what she would say to her fans headed to the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in Sydney, Australia.
“I’ll tell you something, I hope that everyone there in Sydney feels so much joy and celebrates all sexual identities. And I also have a dream in our future as we evolve as humanity that these award shows not be male and female but include everyone,” Gaga replied.
Rami Malek won Best Actor for his portrayal of bisexual Queen frontman Freddie Mercury. Malek is the first Arab-American to win Best Actor.
“I think about what it would have been like to tell little bubba Rami that one day this might happen to him, and I think his curly-haired little mind would have been blown,” Malek told the crowd in his acceptance speech. “That kid was struggling with his identity, trying to figure himself out, and to anyone struggling and trying to discover their voice — listen, we made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life unapologetically himself. And the fact I’m celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we’re longing for stories like this.”
In a heartfelt speech, Oscar winner Rami Malek praises his mom, says he knows his dad is looking down on him, thanks Queen, and says the world “is longing for stories” about people being “unapologetically” themselves.
— ABC News (@ABC) February 25, 2019
Watch the whole thing: https://t.co/zSrvQG8ZE6 #Oscars pic.twitter.com/uXxpfORcPx
“Bohemian Rhapsody” also won awards for Best Sound Editing, Sound Mixing and Film Editing.
Olivia Colman won Best Actress for her role as Queen Anne in “The Favourite.” In her light-hearted speech, Colman said: “This is hilarious. I’ve got an Oscar” and ended her acceptance by blowing a kiss to Lady Gaga.
Olivia Colman gives heartfelt acceptance speech after winning award for Best Actress at the #Oscars.
— ABC News (@ABC) February 25, 2019
“Any little girl who’s practicing her speech on the tele—you never know!” https://t.co/cajeASPKfS pic.twitter.com/oDOFzm7LOg
“Roma” also won big for the night with a win for Best Foreign Picture, Cinematography and a Best Director win for Alfonso Cuarón.
Overall, the night was filled with diversity as a record-number of women won awards. These women included Ruth E. Carter (Best Costume for “Black Panther”) and Hannah Beachler (Best Production Design for “Black Panther”) who became the second and third black women to win non-acting Oscars in the span of a few minutes. Beachler was also the first black woman to ever be nominated for Production Design.
Film veteran Spike Lee won his first Oscar in the history of his career for Best Adapted Screenplay for “
Perhaps the most controversial win of the night went to “Green Book,” which won for Best Picture. The film has maintained plenty of controversy since its release. The film is based on the true story of black pianist Dr. Donald Shirley (Mahershala Ali) who hires Tony Vallelonga (Viggo Mortensen) to be his driver and bodyguard. The film has been accused of using the “white savior” trope. Shirley’s family have also denounced the film as an inaccurate portrayal of the pair’s friendship.
Mortensen also came under fire during promotion for the film when he used the N-word to describe how race relations have changed over the years.
“For instance, no one says ‘N-word’ anymore,” Mortensen said at the time. He later apologized.
Despite the controversy, the film also nabbed a Best Supporting Actor win for Ali, his second following “Moonlight,” and a win for Best Original Screenplay.
Check out the list of winners below.
Best Picture
“Black Panther”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“The Favourite”
“Green Book”
“Roma”
“A Star Is Born”
“Vice”
Actress in a Supporting Role
Amy Adams-“Vice”
Marina de Tavira-“Roma”
Regina King-“If Beale Street Could Talk”
Emma Stone- “The Favourite”
Rachel Weisz- “The Favourite”
Actor in a Supporting Role
Mahershala Ali- “Green Book”
Adam Driver- “BlackKKlansman”
Sam Elliott- “A Star Is Born”
Richard E. Grant- “Can You Ever Forgive Me”
Sam Rockwell- “Vice”
Foreign Language Film
“Capernaum”
“Cold War”
“Never Look Away”
“Roma”
“Shoplifters”
Documentary (Short)
“Black Sheep”
“End Game”
“Lifeboat”
“A Night at the Garden”
“Period. End of Sentence.”
Documentary Feature
“Free Solo”
“Hale County This Morning, This Evening”
“Minding the Gap”
“Of Fathers and Sons”
“RBG”
Original Song
“All The Stars” – “Black Panther”
“I’ll Fight” – “RBG”
“Shallow” – “A Star Is Born”
“The Place Where Lost Things Go” – “Mary Poppins Returns”
“When A Cowboy Trades His Spurs For Wings” – “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
Animated Feature Film
“Incredibles 2”
“Isle of Dogs”
“Mirai”
“Ralph Breaks the Internet”
“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse”
Adapted Screenplay
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“A Star Is Born”
Original Screenplay
“First Reformed”
“Green Book”
“Roma”
“The Favourite”
“Vice”
Actor in a Leading Role
Christian Bale- “Vice”
Bradley Cooper- “A Star Is Born”
Willem Dafoe- “At Eternity’s Gate”
Rami Malek-“Bohemian Rhapsody”
Viggo Mortensen- “Green Book”
Actress in a Leading Role
Yalitza Aparicio- “Roma”
Glenn Close- “The Wife”
Lady Gaga- “A Star Is Born”
Olivia Colman- “The Favourite”
Melissa McCarthy- “Can You Ever Forgive Me?”
Director
Spike Lee- “BlacKkKlansman”
Pawel Pawlikowski- “Cold War”
Yorgos Lanthimos- “The Favourite”
Alfonso Cuarón- “Roma”
Adam McKay- “Vice”
Production Design
“Black Panther”
“The Favourite”
“First Man”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
“Roma”
Cinematography
“Cold War”
“The Favourite”
“Never Look Away”
“Roma”
“A Star Is Born”
Costume Design
“The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”
“Black Panther”
“The Favourite”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
“Mary Queen of Scots”
Sound Editing
“A Quiet Place”
“Black Panther”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“First Man”
“Roma”
Sound Mixing
“Black Panther”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“First Man”
“Roma”
“A Star Is Born”
Animated Short Film
“Animal Behaviour”
“Bao”
“Late Afternoon”
“One Small Step”
“Weekends”
Live Action Short Film
“Detainment”
“Fauve”
“Marguerite”
“Mother”
“Skin”
Original Score
“Black Panther”
“BlacKkKlansman”
“If Beale Street Could Talk”
“Isle of Dogs”
“Mary Poppins Returns”
Visual Effects
“Avengers: Infinity War”
“Christopher Robin”
“First Man”
“Ready Player One”
“Solo: A Star Wars Story”
Film Editing
“BlacKkKlansman”
“Bohemian Rhapsody”
“Green Book”
“The Favourite”
“Vice”
Makeup and Hairstyling
“Border”
“Mary Queen of Scots”
“Vice”
Drag
Pattie Gonia calls out Hegseth’s anti-LGBTQ policies — while doing better pull-ups
Drag queen Pattie Gonia uses a viral instagram video to call out Hegseth’s exclusionary policies while doubling down on activism for LGBTQ rights and the environment.
Drag queen and environmental activist Pattie Gonia has gone viral after posting a video last week calling out Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth — and doing so while knocking out a set of pull-ups with cleaner form than his own, all while in full drag. The clip is a direct response to a separate viral video Hegseth himself posted days earlier, in which he performed less-than-perfect pull-ups that drew widespread mockery online.
“Hi Pete Hegseth, Pattie Gonia here, while you’re busy trying to take away the rights of queer people, I’m over here advocating for the rights of all people, including my right to do better pull-ups than you all with my balls tucked inside of me,” she declares in the now-viral Instagram clip, delivering the message in full drag garb with the theatricality she’s known for.
The video lands at a moment when Hegseth’s record on LGBTQ rights continues to draw scrutiny. Since being appointed by President Trump to lead the Pentagon, the Defense Secretary has pushed the twice impeached president toward a series of exclusionary shifts inside the department.
Hegseth’s efforts have included pressing for the rollback of DEI measures, pausing all gender-affirming care for service members, and blocking promotions for personnel with “a history of gender dysphoria.” He has also openly stated that transgender people should not serve in the military and drew controversy for formally renaming a ship previously dedicated to Navy veteran and LGBTQ icon Harvey Milk to USNS Oscar V. Peterson. Hegseth has long criticized the repeal of “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” framing the policy change as harmful to the armed forces. And in October, he courted further backlash after suggesting women could be barred from military service altogether, arguing that the government would hold personnel to the “highest male standard.”
Pattie’s viral moment is only the latest in her growing portfolio of environmental and queer activism. In August, she joined a team of climbers in Yosemite, helping raise a massive 66-foot-wide trans flag across the iconic El Capitan wall — a striking symbol of trans visibility in one of the most storied national parks in the country. Her drag name even riffs on Patagonia, the famed South American mountain range, blending outdoor culture with camp.
Last week, Pattie Gonia also made a bold statement at the Out 100 award celebration in Los Angeles, wearing a dress crafted from the same trans flag flown at El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. She attended the event alongside non-binary NSP agent SJ Joslin who was fired for her role in helping put up the flag.
Since the beginning of her drag career, Pattie has steadily expanded her influence beyond the stage. She co-founded the Outdoorist Oath, a nonprofit dedicated to helping BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ people and femmes build community in the outdoors through education and shared stewardship. She also launched the Queer Outdoor and Environmental Job Board, a free resource that supports queer people seeking work in environmental and nature-based industries, with the aim of diversifying fields where LGBTQ representation remains limited. Her fundraising efforts have generated over $2.7 million for LGBTQIA+, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), and environmental nonprofits, underscoring her ability to mobilize huge audiences toward collective action.
Her recent projects also include a national tour of her environmental drag show, “SAVE HER!”, which blends performance art with climate messaging, and the release of a documentary TV series, “Go Gently,” co-created with Harry Potter’s Bonnie Wright (Ginny Weasley). The series follows their journey from Los Angeles to Portland, Oregon, where they explore sustainable living and meet with communities protecting the Earth in innovative ways.
Photos
PHOTOS: Remove the Regime rally and march
Dropkick Murphys, Earth to Eve perform on steps of Lincoln Memorial
The Remove the Regime rally and march was held on Saturday, Nov. 22.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Transgender Day of Remembrance was observed at the Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. on Thursday, Nov. 20. The event was emceed by Rayceen Pendarvis and Dwight Venson. Musical selections were provided by Agape Praise and Dynamic Praise. Proclamations from the D.C. Council and the D.C. Office of the Mayor were presented. The Pouring of the Libation was conducted by Rev. Elder Akousa McCray and Rev. Paul Fulton-Woods of Unity Fellowship Church.
Remarks were given by trans survivors of violence. Family members of slain trans woman Dream Johnson were featured speakers. Prayers were given by Rev. Cathy Alexander and Rev. Dwayne Johnson of Metropolitan Community Church of Washington, D.C. Yael Shafritz gave a Jewish prayer through a video presentation. Closing remarks were given by community leader, Earline Budd.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
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