Theater kids, rejoice! The 76th annual Tony Awards arrived in dazzling and star-studded perfection! It's my favorite day during Pride Month 🏳️🌈. For many young queer people, the performances on stage are the first time we get so see ourselves represented (and celebrated!) anywhere. It helps us realize we aren't different and weird — we're special, unique, and important.
Representation matters so much, and the 76th annual Tony Awards paved the way for gender non-conforming people everywhere, as it gave not one, but TWO awards to Black nonbinary performers!
To start, Shucked star and Glee alum Alex Newell took home the award for Featured Actor in a Musical.
In their tearful speech, they said, "I have wanted this my entire life. Thank you for seeing me, Broadway."
If you're not familiar with Shucked (or just want to relive the corny magic) — check out Alex giving their Tony Award–winning performance here:
Yet another historic win was awarded to J. Harrison Ghee, who won for Best Actor in a Musical for their performance in Some Like It Hot.
In their impassioned acceptance speech, they said, "For every trans, nonbinary, gender non-conforming human that was told you couldn't be seen — this is for you." I am still crying a full 12 hours later.
Check out the Tony performance of Some Like It Hot here:
*thank you* to the #wga for letting the show go on at the #TonyAwards. primetime network TV needed to see what acceptance of all bodies, ages, races & genders looks like — all wrapped up in some of the most talented people on the planet. brava, bravo, and everything in between ♥️
It's incredible that two nonbinary people won Tony Awards for the first time this year, but it's so noticeable that they had to misgender themselves to be considered for the award in the first place. It would be momentous to see a nonbinary category added (or even better, remove the "best actress" award and have only a best actor category — because "actor" is a gender neutral term, after all). We hope to see award shows continue to become more inclusive to show gender non-conforming people that there is space for them.
