Two people stand on stage at a podium, with their back to the camera. In front of them is a large crowd seated in a full auditorium.

Photo: Wan San Yip

It’s award season again already, kicking off with Sunday’s Golden Globes! As always, queer and trans people find their home in the arts and gain more representation in popular culture each year. This year’s fashion didn’t disappoint, though there weren’t many LGBTQ+ wins. Here’s all the queer you need to know about the 2025 Golden Globes.

 

Lena Waithe attended but didn’t walk the red carpet with Cynthia Erivo

Erivo and Waithe are private in their (officially unconfirmed) relationship and opted not to walk the red carpet at the Globes together. But they were seated next to each other (even though of course besties Ariana Grande and Erivo moved around the seating chart to sit next to each other) and we got to glimpse Waithe’s slick black suit in some behind-the-scenes pics.

 

Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo Recreated the Finger-Holding Meme

Host Nikki Glaser asked Grande from the stage to hold her finger because she was scared of Trump’s impending presidency. Grande held Erivo’s as a replacement, referencing the memorable queer media moment about “holding space for the lyrics of ‘Defying Gravity.’” Glaser then said her boyfriend’s boyfriend loved Wicked.

 

JVN Rocked a Siriano Gown

It was Jonathan van Ness’s first time attending the Golden Globes and they wowed (to some mixed reviews on the cut and fit of the dress) in a deep green off-the-shoulder gown by Cristian Siriano. They hosted WWD’s Eye on the Red Carpet and gave a gorgeous twirl for the Glambot!

 

 

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A post shared by Jonathan Van Ness (@jvn)

 

Luca Guadagnino stormed out when his film didn’t win

Guadagnino, director of queer films like 2017’s Call Me By Your Name, 2024’s Challengers, and 2024’s Queer, quickly stood up and left the moment Emilia Pérez was named “Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy.” (But to be honest, this was a sub of Wicked, not Challengers.)

 

Karla Sofía Gascón gave a powerful speech

Gascón won “Best Female Actor (Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy)” for her starring role in Emilia Pérez. “You can maybe put us in jail, you can beat us up, but you never can take away our soul, our existence, our identity,” she said in her acceptance speech, “and I want to say to you: Raise your voice [for] freedom. I am who I am, not who you want.” While Michaela Jaé Rodriguez became the first trans actor to win a Golden Globe in 2022 (for “Best Actress — Television Series Drama” for Pose), Gascón was the first trans performer to win in this category. (Of note: Emilia Pérez has been criticized for how it told a trans story as insensitive and trope-heavy). 

 

 

Jessica Gunning won Best Supporting Actress

Out lesbian actress won “Best Supporting Performance by an Actress” for her role in Baby Reindeer. Baby Reindeer also won “Best Limited Series.”

 

We got to see Ayo Edebiri and Emma D’Arcy in suits on the red carpet

Edebiri told Vogue she was inspired by the costumes in Queer in wearing her gray Loewe suit and gold tie. Taking a break from their Negroni Sbagliato, D’Arcy looked sharp in a unique ivory and black Alexander McQueen suit. They told Entertainment Tonight their reference was E.B. Farnum from Deadwood.

 

 

Jodie Foster thanked her wife in her acceptance speech

Foster won “Best Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture—Television” for her role in True Detective: Night Country and thanked her sons, saying “this of course is for you and the love of my life, Alex.”

 

 

 

Sarah Prager
Sarah Prager
Sarah Prager is the author of the award-winning Queer, There, and Everywhere: 27 People Who Changed the World, Rainbow Revolutionaries: 50 LGBTQ+ People Who Made History, Kind Like Marsha: Learning from LGBTQ+ Leaders, and A Child's Introduction to Pride: The Inspirational History and Culture of the LGBTQIA+ Community. Learn more about her speaking, writing, and more at www.sarahprager.com.
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