Sorry, Sam Smith. As your song goes, “You’re not the only one.” Here are 5, among many other, openly gay winners who have gone on to win an Academy Award.
5. Dustin Lance Black
Dustin Lance Black won best screenplay for Milk, which starred Sean Penn as Harvey Milk, the first openly gay man who became California governor. Talk about an entire win for the LGBT community.
4. Bill Condon
Bill Condon, who wrote and directed “Gods And Monsters”, won Best Screenplay in 1999.
3. Howard Ashman
Howard Ashman, who won Best Original Song together with Alan Menken for The Little Mermaid’s “Under The Sea” in 1989, passed away of AIDS complications in 1991.
2. Elton John
The venerated Elton John walked away with much critical success for the songs in Disney’s The Lion King in 1994, including winning Best Song for “Can You Feel The Love Tonight”. He would go on to host the annual Academy Awards Viewing Party, which benefits the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
1. Stephen Sondheim
The legendary Stephen Sondheim is a GOT winner (that’s eight Grammys, one Oscar, and eight Tonys). He won Best Song for “Sooner Or Later (I Always Get My Man)”, sung by Madonna, for the 1990 film Dick Tracy.
