Townley Jordan- "Moonlight" Makes Oscars History as First LGBTQ Best Picture Winner

Summary: "Moonlight" became the first LGBTQ movie to win the Best Picture award at the Academy Awards. LGBTQ films have been nominated for Best Picture before, but none won the LGBTQ award, and many had gay or transgender roles played by straight actors. "It has often been noted that playing queer characters, especially queer characters who die, is one of the best ways to get a Best Actor statue," said LGBTQ film historian Jenni Olson. Not only does Moonlight have a positive ending, the film breaks barriers by showing the largely autobiographical story of a living, black, gay man told in his own words. Tarell Alvin McCraney, whose script "In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue" was the base of the film, took an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. McCraney did not want the movie to be stuck into one box, saying, "Whether or not it does it a disservice, it's more about what the truth of it is. It is a queer story, it is a gay story, it is a poverty story — you know what I mean? It is a story about drug addiction."

The Oscars seem to be working towards being more inclusive, this year a record-breaking five deserving black people won Oscars. Only three awards have ever been given to black people simultaneously before, in 2010 and 2014.

Analysis: This article was written following the Oscars last night. I think it is so great that Moonlight won the award for best picture because it means that even if it is smaller in comparison to the problems minorities are currently facing, it is still a step forward, and it is still a victory. It is also an improvement for the Academy Awards because it seems that they are becoming more accepting. I think it is an especially great accomplishment because in order for the movie to win this award, it related to its audiences. It means that people were able to empathize with the hardships of life for the people of the LGBTQ community even if they themselves were not members of this community. This is such good news because it means progress has been made in the right direction.

Link: Moonlight