Ariana DeBose Is First Openly Queer Woman Of Color To Win An Oscar: ‘There Is A Place For Us’

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March 27, 2022

By Curtis M. Wong, HuffPost

“The “West Side Story” star turned visibly emotional as she acknowledged the historic significance of her win in her acceptance speech.

“West Side Story” director Steven Spielberg with Rita Moreno and Ariana DeBose. (KEVIN MAZUR VIA GETTY IMAGES)

Ariana DeBose continued her stage-to-screen success streak at the 2022 Academy Awards with a history-making win.

DeBose won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performance as Anita in Steven Spielberg’s remake of “West Side Story.” She is the first queer woman of color and Afro-Latina to receive the award.

“Imagine this little girl in the back seat of any white Ford Focus,” she said. “Look into her eyes. You see an openly queer woman and Afro-Latina who found her strength in life through art. And that’s what I believe we’re here to celebrate.”

Alluding to the song “Somewhere” from “West Side Story,” she added, “So to anybody who’s ever questioned your identity ever, ever, ever, or you find yourself living in gray spaces, I promise you this: There is, indeed, a place for us.”

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