Looking back on some LGBT Oscar moments and best actress wins by gay icons Cher and Barbra Streisand

It’s Oscar morning and I’m catching the fever!

I’m rooting for How to Survive a Plague to win documentary and for Tony Kushner to win screenplay for Lincoln. Otherwise, it’s just not a very gay year in the nominations.

So let’s look back at 2009 when Dustin Lance Black seized the moment after winning the screenplay Oscar for Milk and really said something to gay kids out there and to the world. I’m even more impressed now, four years later, at his poise and remarkable words. Sean Penn took the stage later that evening after winning for playing Harvey Milk and also said some great things.

Then there was 2000 when Hilary Swank won for playing transgender male Brandon Teena and ended her speech saying some wonderful things about diversity. (I still feel so sad to look her hubby’s tearful face and to know that she will forget to thank him in a speech where she thanked everyone but the chauffeur! He’s now her ex-husband, Chad Lowe)

And finally, just because I’m a gay man who loves his divas, I’ve included Barbra Streisand and Cher best actress wins.