Qween Jean has made history as the first openly transgender person to win a Tony Award. At the 79th Annual Tony Awards held at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, Jean received the award for Best Costume Design of a Musical for her work on Cats: The Jellicle Ball.
Historic Win and Powerful Speech
Jean, a costume designer and LGBT+ rights activist, was also nominated for Best Costume Design of a Play for Liberation. Upon accepting the award, she delivered a stirring speech, reminding the audience that pride is a protest.
"This experience has been monumental. We are here for the legacy of queer people, trans people," she said. "We are taking up space in ways we have to take up space. We have to shift the paradigm. So I just want to say, thank you all so much for this incredible honour. The world right now is deeply, deeply combating so many ailments, and we know as a society that when we come together, we can make real, permanent change."
Activism and Advocacy
Jean is one of the founders of the Black Trans Liberation collective. In her speech, she highlighted ongoing issues: "Pride is a protest. In this moment, we are seeing all across the city people, queer people, young folks, parents are being detained. They are being at the Newark Delaney Facility, it not only needs to be shut down, but there needs to be serious investigation. The police cannot investigate the police."
She added: "It doesn't make sense that billions are being poured into an institution of destruction when resources can be used to help people, can get them a lawyer, the human rights care they deserve." Concluding her remarks, she stated: "As a queer person, a leader, a mother, I will never stand quiet. If any woman is in pain, even if her shackles are different from mine, let's get unshackled."
Tony Awards Opening Performance
The ceremony opened with host Pink's Broadway-themed performance, featuring a surprise appearance by Megan Thee Stallion. The duo was joined by Dylan Mulvaney and Neil Patrick Harris. Mulvaney wore a shirt reading "Protect The Dolls," with proceeds benefiting Not A Phase, a trans-led UK charity supporting trans+ adults.
