19 Of The Queerest Oscar Moments Of All Time

19 Of The Queerest Oscar Moments Of All Time

Hollywood's biggest event of the year is upon us again.

Tonight, people will gather in living rooms and bars around the world to take in the Oscars' legendarily glamorous fashion, relive 2013's best films and find out who will be going home with their very own golden statue.

And to top it all off, the 86th annual Academy Awards will be hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, one of the most prominent lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) icons alive today.

Which got us wondering: Just what other historic queer moments have there been at the Oscars over the past 86 years?

In honor and celebration of the Academy Awards, here are some the queerest moments from Oscar history. Is there one you'd add to the list? Tell us in the comments section below.

Ellen Degeneres Hosts The 79th Academy Awards -- And Again Tonight
Courtesy of YouTube
Popular comedian, television host and actress Ellen Degeneres hosted the 79th annual Academy Awards, making her the first openly gay host in the Academy's history. She will return to the stage again tonight to once again host as one of the most highly visible members of the queer community in the entertainment industry.
Dustin Lance Black
YouTube
Dustin Lance Black received an Academy Award for "Best Original Screenplay"in 2009 for "Milk." The openly gay screenwriter, director, producer and LGBT rights activist gave a very emotional speech about the struggle to produce the film, which tells the story of Harvey Milk, the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California and in the U.S. This win was monumental for Black, the legacy of Harvey Milk and for the entire LGBT community.
"Brokeback Mountain" Wins For Adapted Screenplay
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"Brokeback Mountain" won for "Best Adapted Screenplay" and "Best Director" (Ang Lee) during the 78th Academy Awards. The film is adapted from the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx. The screenplay is written by Diana Ossana and Larry McMurtry. Starring Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Anne Hathaway and Michelle Williams, the film depicts the complex relationship between two men in the American West from 1963 to 1983.
Dallas Buyers Club And Jared Leto Nominated
Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP
"Dallas Buyers Club" was a groundbreaking film for a number of reasons, including Jared Leto's portrayal of a transgender woman. Both the film and Leto are up for nominations tonight, with "Dallas Buyers Club" up for Best Picture and Jared Leto for Best Supporting Actor. Matthew McConaughey is also nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor.
Charlize Theron Wins For "Monster"
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Charlize Theron won an Academy Award for "Best Actress" for her role in the 2003 movie "Monster" during the 76th Oscars. In the award-winning (based on a true story) film she portrays lesbian sex worker and murderer Aileen Wuornos.
Gay Producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron
YouTube
Craig Zadan and Neil Meron were the 2013 Academy Award producers and are fulfilling the role again this year. They've produced projects such as Chicago, Smash and Footloose. During an interview with The Advocate Meron said, "The producers of the Oscars are openly gay. That infuses our work in a subtle way and will always be there. The LGBT viewers will not be disappointed."
Judy Garland Sings "Over The Rainbow" During Oscars
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Gay icon Judy Garland sang "Over The Rainbow," the popular tune scored in the 1939 film "The Wizard Of Oz," at the Academy Awards. The film won two Oscars including "Best Original Song." During Garlands acceptance of her "Juvenile Academy Award" she was asked to sing the hit song.
Neil Patrick Harris Opens 2010 Oscars
YouTube
Neil Patrick Harris opened up the 2010 (82nd) Academy Awards singing a cinematic infused number with feather boa-ed dancers. In the humorous number he references "dropping the soap."
Two Films With Gay Characters Nominated In The Same Category
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Julianne Moore and Nicole Kidman were both nominated for "Best Lead Actress" at the 2003 Oscars. Moore was nominated for "Far From Heaven" and Kidman for "The Hours". Both films had gay characters. This was Nicole Kidman's second nomination, but first Academy Award.
Hillary Swank Wins For "Boys Don't Cry"
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Hillary Swank wons an Academy Award for her first Oscar nomination and her inspiring role in the 1999 film "Boys Don't Cry" about transgender man Brandon Teena.At the beginning of her acceptance speech, Swank talked about how Hollywood has came a long way to produce a film of that nature.
Angelina Jolie Wins For "Girl Interrupted"
YouTube
Bisexual actress Angelina Jolie snagged her first Academy Award nomination for "Best Supporting Actress" in "Girl, Interrupted." The movie had strong lesbian undertones, with the main character, played by Winona Ryder, enchanted by Jolie's character.
Elton John Wins Oscar For 'Best Original Song'
Courtesy of YouTube
In the 67th Academy Awards, openly gay Sir Elton John won his first Oscar for "Best Original Song" for his performance of "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" for the Disney classic "The Lion King" in 1994.
Marlon Brando Wins For "On The Waterfront"
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Marlon Brando, who was rumored to have had a string of celebrity gay affairs, won an Academy Award for the 1954 film "On The Waterfront." In Brando's 1975 biography, The Only Contender written by Gary Carey, he unapologetically admitted to having "experiences" with men.
Tom Hanks Wins For His Role In 'Philadelphia'
Courtesy of YouTube
Tom Hanks won the Oscar in 1994 for "Best Actor In a Leading Role" for playing Andrew Beckett, a gay lawyer living with AIDS who gets fired because his colleagues fear they'll also get the disease. During his emotional and touching acceptance speech, Hanks thanked two of his childhood mentors, whom he called "two of the finest gay Americans," who inspired his acting career.
Cher Wins Oscar For Her Role In 'Moonstruck'
Courtesy of YouTube
In 1988, Cher beat out the likes of Meryl Streep, Glenn Close, Holly Hunter and Sally Kirkland and took home the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Loretta Castorini in "Moonstruck." And who could forget her dress that night, too?
James Franco Does Drag
Courtesy of YouTube
Even though their Oscar hosting duties in 2011 were met with a lot of criticism, at one point during the night co-host James Franco came out on stage donned in drag, while Anne Hathaway rocked a tuxedo. Maybe we'll be seeing Franco on "Drag Race" season 15, 18...?
Barbra Streisand Wins And Arrives In Glitter
YouTube
Gay icon Barbara Streisand won an Academy Award for Best Actress for "Funny Girl" in 1969, a tie with Katharine Hepburn in "Lion In The Winter." She arrived in a black sheer glittery ensemble. Work!
Sean Penn Wins Oscar For Playing Harvey Milk
Courtesy of YouTube
In 2009 at the 81st Academy Awards, Sean Penn took home the Oscar for "Best Actor In a Leading Role" for playing gay rights activist Harvey Milk in the movie "Milk."Penn eloquently said in his acceptance speech: "I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support. We've got to have equal rights for everyone."
Joan Rivers Nudges Queen Latifah About Private Life At 2007 Oscars
Larry Busacca via Getty Images
Rumors have long swirled about rapper, singer, actress and producer Queen Latifah's sexuality ever since her role in the 1996 movie "Set It Off" where she played a gun-toting, bank robbing lesbian. During the 2007 Oscar Awards Joan Rivers blatantly tried to get the actress to discuss her love life on the red carpet. In 2012, many suspected Latifah would come out when she headlined Long Beach Pride, but she did not.

CORRECTION: The original version of this article stated that "The Hours" won Best Picture in 2003. "Chicago" actually won in that category that year.

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