The 87th Academy Awards closed out Hollywood's major awards season live tonight on ABC, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris and produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron.
The Alan Turing biopic The Imitation Game's screenwriter Graham Moore took home the Oscar in Writing (Adapted Screenplay). "Stay weird. Stay different, and then when it's your turn and you are standing on this stage, please pass the same message," said Moore. As the film illustrates, Turing was convicted for "gross indecency" and chemically castrated in 1952 for being gay, and received a posthumous royal pardon over 60 years later in 2013. Now, the film's star Benedict Cumberbatch and out British actor Stephen Fry are urging the British government to pardon the 49,000 other British citizens who, like Turing, were persecuted under anti-gay laws.
Selma took home the Oscar in Music (Original Song) for "Glory" written and performed by Common and John Legend.Selma is based on the 1965 voting rights marches from Selma to Montgomery and the film's character ensemble features Bayard Rustin, an openly gay man who worked as an advocate for human rights. "The spirit of the bridge transcends race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, and social status," said Common in his acceptance. You can learn more about Rustin's story in the documentary Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin.
Lesbian sister duo Tegan and Sara performed the Oscar-nominated song "Everything is Awesome!!!" with The Lonely Island, the song is part of The Lego Movie soundtrack. Recently engaged singer and openly bisexual Lady Gaga also performed a special tribute medley performance for The Sound of Music.