Lesbian Themed ‘Fun Home’ Wins Five Tony Awards, Including Best Musical (Video)
Watch as the hit “Fun Home” wins Best Musical – why is this historic and important for the LGBT community and women?
Banned for five months in a Missouri library, attacked as “pornographic” by a South Carolina religious “family” group, Alison Bechdel’s New York Times best-selling graphic novel and memoir was adapted into a musical which won five Tony Awards Sunday night, including Best Musical.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4bV3IP_Zww
The story, about a young girl’s growing understanding of her being a lesbian, and shares her relationship with her closeted gay father who commits suicide, also won Best Leading Actor in a Musical (Michael Cerveris), Best Book of a Musical (for Lisa Kron), Best Direction of a Musical (Sam Gold), and Best Original Score, Music, and Lyrics (Jeanine Tesori and Lisa Kron).
“Fun Home” is the “first mainstream musical about a young lesbian,” according to Slate. It’s also the “the first time an all-female team has won the award,” the Daily Beast notes, lamenting it was “a historic moment CBS saw fit not to broadcast” at the 69th Annual Tony Awards.
In his emotional acceptance speech, Michael Cerveris urged the Supreme Court to rule for same-sex marriage.
“It’s a very personal story. I wasn’t telling that story for anyone but myself,” Bechdel told reporters Sunday night.
“Fun Home” will continue on Broadway, but it is also going on tour next year, where its Tony Award sweep will make audiences more likely to see the show, bringing more understanding and support for young LGBT people and their families across the country.
The L.A. Times has the full list of Tony award winners.
Watch as Larry David and Jason Alexander announce “Fun Home” as the winner for Best Musical:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj6maulKLs8#t=138
And watch Michael Cerveris’ speech for winning Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Musical:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddM8oPW4gbg
Â
Image: Screenshot via CBS/YouTube

Enjoy this piece?
… then let us make a small request. The New Civil Rights Movement depends on readers like you to meet our ongoing expenses and continue producing quality progressive journalism. Three Silicon Valley giants consume 70 percent of all online advertising dollars, so we need your help to continue doing what we do.
NCRM is independent. You won’t find mainstream media bias here. From unflinching coverage of religious extremism, to spotlighting efforts to roll back our rights, NCRM continues to speak truth to power. America needs independent voices like NCRM to be sure no one is forgotten.
Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure NCRM remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to NCRM, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.
![]() |