Oscars 2022: Ariana DeBose is the first openly queer woman of color to win an Oscar

Ariana DeBose made film history last Sunday night when she became the first openly queer woman of color was awarded an Oscar. The actress won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s Westside Story.

In her acceptance speech, DeBose paid tribute to Rita Moreno, who won an Oscar for the same role in 1962. She further thanked Moreno for “paving the way for tons of Anitas like me.” She also spoke about her identity as a queer woman and Afro-Latina.

“Imagine this little girl in the back seat of a white Ford Focus. Look her in the eyes, you see an openly queer woman of color, an Afro-Latina who has found her life and strength in art,” she said. “I think that’s what we want to celebrate here. To anyone who has ever questioned their identities, ever, or who finds themselves in the gray spaces, I promise this—there is indeed a place for us.”

She added, “Now you see why Anita says, ‘I want to be in America.’ Because even in this tired world we live in, dreams do come true.”

DeBose and Moreno become the first two women to be recognized for the same role (in different films). Previously, this only applied to Marlon Brando and Robert DeNiro, as well as Heath Ledger and Joaquin Phoenix.

Jessica Chastain took home the Oscar for Best Actress this year, who used her acceptance speech to speak out against discrimination and injustice. Troy Kotsur was also the first deaf actor to win an Oscar.

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