Newly-minted Tony winner Michael Arden–who just won for his direction of the musical revival of Parade–reclaimed a homophobic slur in his acceptance speech on Sunday night.
Also known as the "f-slur," the word has colloquially been used to attack men who were perceived as effeminate, or didn't fit the description of the traits stereotypically associated with masculinity.
In recent times, however, the historically anti-gay epithet has been reclaimed by some members of the LGBTQ+ community to commonly describe feminine queer men in an attempt to destigmatize it.
When he went up on stage to accept his Tony, Arden used the f-slur in his speech that mentioned being bullied when he was younger.
The Julliard School alum said:
“Growing up, I was called the f-word more times than I can count."
He then declared with pride:
“But now, I’m a f-word with a Tony.”
You can watch the moment here.
Warning: LGBTQ+ slur
In the televised broadcast, the latter part of his speech was censored.
But those attending the ceremony heard the full speech and erupted in applause.
Among those in the audience who rose to their feet was Ben Platt, who plays Leo Frank in Parade, and Platt's fiancé Noah Galvin.
On social media, Arden was instantly hailed as iconic.
Arden also urged the queer community to "come together" and combat homophobia.
He said:
“We must battle this. Otherwise, we are doomed to repeat the horrors of our history."
“And to our beautiful trans, nonbinary, queer youth, know that your queerness is what makes you beautiful and powerful."
"Everyone in this room sees you and needs you and will fight alongside you and we will win.”
The celebratory evening was highlighted by other monumental queer victories.
The American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League recognized and honored the first nonbinary, gender non-conforming actors.
Glee alum Alex Newell won Best Performance by a Featured Actor in the musical Shucked, while J. Harrison Ghee won Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Some Like it Hot.
The reclamation of the f-slur may trace its origins to 2007 when activist Erin Davies toured with her Volkswagen Beetle that had been vandalized with the homophobic slur, "f*g” and the phrase, "U R Gay."
She seized an opportunity to raise awareness surrounding homophobia and LGBTQ+ rights by taking her graffitied car for a 58-day tour across the U.S. and Canada.
On her trek that was filmed for the 80-minute documentary, F*gbug, Davies interviewed 536 people–including leaders in the LGBTQ+ community–and discussed issues of intolerance and spoke out against hate crimes.
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