Enjoy these feminist wins from the 94th Academy Awards. After all, we can’t let two grown men steal all of the headlines.
Women Oscar Hosts Roast the Pay Gap, Voting Restrictions and ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bills
Amy Schumer, an Oscars cohost alongside Wanda Sykes and Regina Hall, began the awards show by calling out the pay disparity that exists in the entertainment industry. A 2019 study on the Hollywood pay gap found top women actors earn as little as 38 percent as much as top men actors—much larger than the mainstream gender wage gap, which was around around 80 cents in 2019. Today it’s closer to 83 cents, though since that number hides greater disparities by race and ethnicity, some studies put it much lower, in the mid-50’s.
Sykes later jabbed at restrictive voting laws breaking records in the U.S., joking that a consolation prize for losing actors in attendance is a pre-shredded Texas voter registration form. For context, S.B. 1, the controversial Republican voting law, led to a sharp rise in rejected ballots in Texas’s latest primary election. The rejected ballots have been disproportionately made up of Black voters.
Jessica Chastain Uses Her First-Ever Oscars Speech to Stand Up for LGBTQ Rights
In an acceptance speech after her first-ever Oscars win, actor Jessica Chastain spoke out against “discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us,” as well as the “violence and hate crimes perpetuated on innocent civilians all over the world.”
“Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. It’s touched many families; it’s touched mine. And especially members of the LGBTQ community, who oftentimes feel out of place with their peers,” said Chastain, who won for her portrayal of Tammy Faye Messner. “We want to be accepted for who we are, accepted for who we love, live a life without the fear of violence or terror. And for any of you out there who do, in fact, feel hopeless or alone, I just want you to know that you are unconditionally loved for the uniqueness that is you.”
Her message was timely—on Monday, just hours after the Oscars aired, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law the Parental Rights in Education Act, nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
The three women cohosts didn’t shy away from LGBTQ issues either. When Sykes, a lesbian, ended her beginning monologue, she announced, “We’re gonna have a great night tonight. And for you people in Florida, we’re gonna have a gay night.” Hall and Schumer then joined her in saying, “gay” eight times in defiance.
Troy Kotsur Wins With CODA
When he won an Oscar for his supporting actor role in CODA, Troy Kotsur became the first deaf man to win an acting Oscar. (The word coda is an acronym for “child of deaf adult.”)
Troy Kotsur received a standing ovation at the 94th Academy Awards after he became the first deaf male actor to ever win an Oscar — watch his acceptance speech #Oscars pic.twitter.com/f8753VxLh0
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 28, 2022
He dedicated his acceptance speech to the “deaf community, the CODA community, and the disabled community. This is our moment.” (Kotsur’s costar Marlee Matlin is the first deaf person to win an acting award at the Oscars, which she took home in 1987; Kotsur also shouted her out in his speech.)
Beyonce Kicks Off Oscars Night in Compton
Beyoncé (a Ms. cover star from 2015!) kicked off Oscars night with a performance of “Be Alive” from the Venus and Serena Williams biopic King Richard. Beyonce performed from the Williams sisters’ hometown of Compton, Calif., alongside musicians and performers all dressed in tennis lime green. (Did you notice some rocking the Williams sisters’ signature hair beads?) Bey was eventually joined by her daughter Blue Ivy.
Beyoncé’s first award show performance in 5 years #Oscars pic.twitter.com/u6rZ1tc65D
— IVY (@ivyparkspr) March 28, 2022
Ariana DeBose Is the First Openly Queer Woman to Win an Acting Oscar
When Afro-Latina actor Ariana DeBose from West Side Story won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, she made history as the first openly queer woman of color to be nominated for to win an Academy Award in an acting category.
Ariana DeBose stole the night as the first openly queer, Afro Latina Academy Award winner in Oscars history pic.twitter.com/Evic8WwDA7
— NowThis (@nowthisnews) March 28, 2022
Oliver Haug helped with research for this article.
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