Award shows are generally boring, but why do they appeal to the queer demographic so much then?
As a gay boy grappling with identity and constantly hungry for things that could mold my being in the 90s, awards shows like the Oscars, Grammys, and the VMAs helped me figure things out a bit more. I probably wouldn’t be as flamboyant today if Madonna didn’t perform Bedtime Story at the 1995 Brit Awards with those fans aimed at her ultra-long (was it 40 inches?) platinum blonde hair and the immaculate Versace gown. I wouldn’t be as confident about myself if Martha Stewart didn’t present the VMA award to the Spice Girls for Best Dance Video at the 1997 VMA. If Mariah and Whitney didn’t present the award at the 1998 VMA wearing the same Vera Wang gown, which they both altered on stage to set them apart, the millennium bug would’ve happened. In fact, all the glorious, provocative, and thought-provoking visuals continue to dictate the taste and guide the imagination of many queer people up until today, myself very much included.
These iconic moments in pop culture satisfy and indulge the gay butterflies in our stomachs. They inspire us. They release endorphins. Call it shallow—whatever—but they make us smile and impossibly gayer, which is always a great thing.
The alarm is set to 7:15 and 7:30 AM. (You know how it is, just in case I need an extra 15 in the morning.) Award shows typically start at 8 in the morning, but I need an earlier time allowance to check Instagram and Twitter for red-carpet looks, new meme-able moments, and who or what’s trending before the actual show.
This year’s Oscars gave the most trophies to Everything Everywhere All At Once, a film that went straight to my number one list of favorite movies, pushing Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind down to number two. It became the most-awarded film in history, knocking over The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at the top spot. It is a triumph in queer storytelling. It made history for Asian actors. As an Asian who is queer, WERQ!
As I fully immersed myself in this lengthy (admittedly mostly boring) display of everything Hollywood, I couldn’t help but wonder: Why do we love watching award shows?
PARADE OF FASHION
Fashion shows and couture houses present new collections before the award show calendar. Seeing these beautiful people in the most stunning pieces that we just saw on the runways of different fashion capitals is another level of pleasure, like when Lady Gaga (who confirmed her attendance just three days before the show) wore what Gigi wore at the Versace show in L.A. four days after. Speaking of Mother Monster herself, she gave us numerous delicious red-carpet fashions, like when she arrived at the 2011 Grammys in a vessel (designed by Hussein Chalayan and Haus of Gaga) carried by her designers and escorted by “supermodel nurse” Anne V. How many queer people had to short circuit (in a good way) because of that? How about when she arrived on a mechanical horse at the 2013 American Music Awards? Don’t get me started with Björk and Cher!
REPRESENTATION IS PUT ON DISPLAY
There’s still a long way to go, but we’ve seen efforts from these award shows to become more inclusive. When Miley Cyrus hosted the 2015 VMAs, she invited a slew of our favorite Drag Race queens to join her for the finale performance, where they all wore BCalla. We see more people celebrating the accomplishments of queer creators and artists, and can be seen as a point of pride.
CELEBRATION OF TALENT
We appreciate the recognition and the celebration of achievements. I especially love acceptance speeches. I am particularly wired to empathize with the recipient’s emotion, so whether they’re expressing joy, gratitude, or surprise, I feel those and cry with them, too. Inspirational, relatability and social significance are some ingredients in a speech that move me. This year’s award season, Sally Field at the 29th SAG Awards takes the cake. But, of course, live performances have a more lasting impact than acceptance speeches. Sometimes, it even defines a significant shift in a celebrity’s career, cementing them to superstar status. I believe no soul has ever recovered after Britney Spears performed Oops!… I Did It Again/Satisfaction at the 2000 VMA.
REALTIME DEMONSTRATION OF POP CULTURE
We love being up-to-date with buzz-worthy entertainment news and controversies, where we can share our opinions in group chats. Memorable moments (like when a bunch of Madonna impersonators introduced the queen of pop at the 1999 VMAs) and live performances that will be referenced until the seas run dry. They freeze a moment in our time—a lens through which we can view a particular time’s social and cultural landscape. They make the turning of Earth a lot better than the turning of Mars.
These things inspire creatives, queer or not, to create more. These things spark change and imagination. These things shape perceptions. These things provide an escape from the stresses of our daily lives. When Geri Halliwell wore that Union Jack dress, I was closer to understanding myself.
A bonus list: red carpet moments that drag queens recreated
Chad Michaels, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 4, Snatch Game; Cher in Bob Mackie, Oscars 1986
Alexis Michelle, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 9, Favorite Gaga Look; Lady Gaga in Atelier Versace, Golden Globes 2016
Katya, RuPaul’s Drag Race season 7, mini challenge; Björk in Marjan Pejoski, Oscars 2001
Trixie Mattel, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 3, best drag; Christina Ricci in Zac Posen, Met Gala 2011
BOA, Canada’s Drag Race, Night of 1000 Celines; Celine Dion in Oscar de la Renta, Met Gala 2019
Trinity The Tuck, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 4, entrance look; Sarah Paulson in Prada, Ocean’s 8 world premiere, 2018
A’Whora, Wildcat charity event; Elizabeth Hurley in Versace, Four Weddings and a Funeral premiere, 1994
Cast of RuPaul’s Drag Race: LIVE! at the 2022 Grammy Awards
(Derrick Barry as Britney Spears, Naomi Smalls as Cher, Alexis Mateo as Selena, Kameron Michaels as Lady Gaga, Jaida Essence Hall as Beyonce, Coco Montrese as Janet Jackson, Kahanna Monstrese as Toni Braxton, and Trinity K. Bonet as Ariana Grande)
(Coco Montrese as Li’l Kim, Alyssa Edwards as Katy Perry as Britney Spears, Roxxy Andrews as Kim Kardashian, Phi Phi O’Hara as Lady Gaga, Ginger Minj as Madonna, Katya as herself, Detox as herself, Tatianna as Aaliyah, and Alaska Thunderfuck as Britney Spears)
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4 Reasons Why We Love Award Shows
Source: Insta News Pinoy
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