LGBTQ+ actors Lily Gladstone and Colman Domingo were among those receiving Oscar nominations when they were announced Jan. 23.
Gladstone received a Best Actress nod for her role in the Martin Scorsese-directed Killers of the Flower Moon—becoming the first Native American (and Two-Spirit individual) to be nominated for an Academy Award for acting. Gladstone, who grew up on the Blackfeet Reservation in Browning, Montana, is of Blackfeet and Nez Perce heritage on her father's side as well as white European on her mother's, per The Wrap. Gladstone is also only the second Native American to be nominated in any category, with the first being Buffy Sainte-Marie, who won for the original song "Up Where We Belong," from An Officer and a Gentleman, in 1983.
Domingo received a Best Actor Oscar nod for his lead role in Rustin, which is about the late civil-rights icon Bayard Rustin—who was also openly gay. In a statement, Dr. David J. Johns, who leads the Black LGBTQ+ organization The National Black Justice Coalition, said, "We are delighted for Colman to receive his well-deserved flowers with this earned Oscar nomination, and congratulate him for his outstanding portrayal of Bayard Rustin, raising awareness of the civil rights icon and his unsung perseverance as a Black, same-gender loving man who helped architect the March on Washington, and what many around the world practice as non-violent civil disobedience.
"This nomination highlights the importance of bringing stories of Black, LGBTQ+ leaders to the forefront, increasing representation in Hollywood, and educating audiences on the Black and Black Queer history that some states are actively working to erase. We applaud Netflix, the Obama Family, and all those involved with the film for the visibility this nomination brings to the beautiful diversity that has always existed within our community and for inspiring meaningful conversations about the rich history of Black LGBTQ+ leaders in the civil rights movement and beyond."
In other LGBTQ+-related developments, Maestro—about the life of LGBTQ+ composer Leonard Bernstein—received several nods, including Best Picture, Best Actor (Bradley Cooper) and Best Actress (Carey Mulligan). Annette Being also garnered a Best Actress nod for portraying the lesbian swimmer Diana Nyad in Nyad.
In addition, Sterling K. Brown got a Best Supporting Actor nod for portraying a gay character in American Fiction while out actress Jodie Foster was among those nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Nyad.
Among those snubbed were the Emerald Fennell film Saltburn (which received zero nominations) as well as lead actor Barry Keoghan, who portrayed sexually fluid character Oliver Quick. Also, All of Us Strangers lead actor Andrew Scott (who's openly gay) was not nominated, and neither was the movie.
Also, Justine Triet became just the eighth woman nominated for a Best Director Oscar for helming Anatomy of a Fall. However, Barbie director Greta Gerwig (who received a nod in 2018 for Ladybird) was shut out this time.
The Christopher Nolan film Oppenheimer led all movies with 13 nominations. The fantasy film Poor Things, starring Emma Stone, followed with 11, while Killers of the Flower Moon got 10 nominations.
The ceremony will take place March 10, with Jimmy Kimmel hosting for a fourth time.
—Andrew Davis
