J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell make LGBTQ+ history with Tony Awards nominations
J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell have made LGBTQ+ history with their recent Tony Award nominations. On 2 May, the two powerhouse talents became the first non-binary actors to earn acting nominations at the longstanding ceremony.
Newell, who goes by he/she/they pronouns, snagged their first Tony nomination for “best performance by an actor featured in a musical” for their role as whiskey distiller Lulu in Schucked the Musical.
As for Ghee, who also uses he/she/they pronouns, the talented singer took home the coveted nomination for “best performance by an actor in a leading role in a musical” for their portrayal of Jerry/Daphne in Some Like It Hot.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, the two musical talents expressed excitement over their groundbreaking nomination, and the Tony Awards move toward inclusivity. “It’s a step in the right direction because there are so many gender non-conforming and nonbinary performers that might not ever get to shine because of these gendered categories,” Newell said.
