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.
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:
And watch Michael Cerveris’ speech for winning Best Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role In A Musical:
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Image: Screenshot via CBS/YouTube