Tony Awards 2025: Every LGBTQ+ winner and iconic performance

From LGBTQ+ to EGOT, the T is *not* silent!

The 78th Tony Awards ceremony aired on Sunday, June 8 and can easily be considered one of the gayest and most exciting awards shows in history.

Fresh off releasing her new album I Forgive You, performing at the WorldPride 2025 in Washington, D.C., and promoting the upcoming sequel Wicked: For Good, Out100 Icon of the Year Cynthia Erivo hosted the 2025 Tonys.

This year's Tony Awards ceremony had everything: Cole vs. Clooney, Audra McDonald performing Gypsy, Jonathan Groff arriving Just in Time, Nicole Scherzinger living her full Sunset Boulevard fantasy, A-list movie starts in attendance, bona fide Broadway Divas gracing us with their presence, and several queer projects being celebrated. This one was "For the Gaze"!

Keep scrolling to see the LGBTQ+ winners and iconic performances at the 78th Tony Awards — which is now streaming on CBS.com and Paramount+.

'Maybe Happy Ending' — 6 wins (of 10 nominations)

Starring Darren Criss and Helen J. Shen, Maybe Happy Ending won six of 10 nominations at the 2025 Tonys. Overall, this musical won more Tony Awards than any other production at the ceremony.

The full list of wins and nominations for Maybe Happy Ending (winners in bold):

Best Musical (winner)
Best Direction of a Musical — Michael Arden (winner)
Best Book of a Musical (winner) — Will Aronson and Hue Park (winner)
Best Original Score — Will Aronson and Hue Park (winner)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical — Darren Criss Won (winner)
Best Scenic Design of a Musical — Dane Laffrey and George Reeve (winner)
Best Costume Design of a Musical — Clint Ramos
Best Lighting Design of a Musical Ben Stanton
Best Sound Design of a Musical — Peter Hylenski
Best Orchestrations — Will Aronson

'Buena Vista Social Club' — 4 wins (of 10 nominations)

Saheem Ali — who identifies as queer — was nominated for a 2025 Tony Award for directing Buena Vista Social Club. This new musical received 10 nominations overall, tying with Death Becomes Her and Maybe Happy Ending as most-nominated Broadway shows of the year. During the ceremony, the production won four Tonys out of the 10 nominations it received.

The full list of wins and nominations for Buena Vista Social Club (winners in bold):

Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical — Natalie Venetia Belcon (winner)
Best Sound Design of a Musical — Jonathan Deans (winner)
Best Choreography — Patricia Delgado and Justin Peck (winner)
Best Orchestrations — Marco Paguia (winner)
Best Musical
Best Direction of a Musical — Saheem Ali
Best Book of a Musical — Marco Ramirez
Best Scenic Design of a Musical — Arnulfo Maldonado
Best Costume Design of a Musical — Dede Ayite
Best Lighting Design of a Musical — Tyler Micoleau

'Oh, Mary!' — 2 wins (of 5 nominations)

The biggest queer sensation over the last year, Oh, Mary!, received a glorious five nominations at the 78th Tony Awards. It's been quite a year for the 2024 Out100 honoree Cole Escola, and Broadway fans love that this production received some well-deserved recognition.

The full list of wins and nominations for Oh, Mary! (winners in bold):

Cole Escola — Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (winner)
Sam Pinkleton — Best Direction of a Play (winner)
Best Play
Conrad Ricamora — Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Holly Pierson — Best Costume Design of a Play

RELATED: Cole Escola makes Tony history with acting win, thanks Grindr connection

'The Picture of Dorian Gray' — 2 wins (of 6 nominations)

Based on the 1891 novel of the same name by Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray had its Broadway debut in March and featured Succession breakout star Sarah Snook playing a whopping total of 26 different characters in the play. Now, the new play by queer director Kip Williams is up for six Tony Awards in 2025.

The full list of wins and nominations for The Picture of Dorian Gray (winners in bold):

Sarah Snook — Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play (winner)
Marg Horwell — Best Costume Design of a Play (winner)
Kip Williams — Best Direction of a Play
Nick Schlieper — Best Lighting Design of a Play
Marg Horwell and David Bergman — Best Scenic Design of a PlayNick Schlieper — Best Lighting Design of a Play
Clemence Williams — Best Sound Design of a Play

'Death Becomes Her' — 1 win (of 10 nominations)

"NOW a Tony?!" Well, yes! The hit Broadway musical Death Becomes Her has earned 10 nominations at the 2025 Tony Awards. Special shoutouts to our favorite song of the musical, "For the Gaze," as well as Christopher Gattelli earning two nominations as both director and choreographer.

The full list of wins and nominations for The Picture of Dorian Gray (winners in bold):

Paul Tazewell — Best Costume Design of a Musical (winner)
Best Musical
Christopher Gattelli — Best Direction of a Musical
Christopher Gattelli — Best Choreography
Marco Pennette — Best Book of a Musical
Megan Hilty — Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Jennifer Simard — Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Julia Mattison and Noel Carey — Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Derek McLane — Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Justin Townsend — Best Lighting Design of a Musical

RELATED: How Death Becomes Her became a 'gay dream come true'

Harvey Fierstein received the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre

This year's Tony Awards also had Harvey Fierstein receiving the Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre award — a milestone accolade celebrating this queer icon's career on Broadway and beyond.

Watch: Cynthia Erivo's opening number at the 2025 Tony Awards

Cynthia Erivo kicked off the 2025 Tonys with a showstopping performance — and did so with an outfit that clearly nodded to Dorothy's ruby slippers in The Wizard of Oz.

Watch: 'Death Becomes Her' performance at the 2025 Tony Awards

Watch: 'Just in Time' performance at the 2025 Tony Awards

Jonathan Groff delivered a dazzling performance of Just in Time while performing at the Tonys. Spoiler art: Keanu Reeves is involved!

Watch: 'Buena Vista Social Club' performance at the 2025 Tony Awards

The company of Buena Vista Social Club performed "Candela" at the 78th Tony Awards.

Watch: 'Sunset Blvd' performance at the 2025 Tony Awards

Nicole Scherzinger sang her heart out and delivered a truly iconic performance of "As If We Never Said Goodbye" from Sunset Blvd.

Watch: 'Maybe Happy Ending' performance at the 2025 Tony Awards

Darren Criss didn't just win a Tony at the ceremony — he also delivered a wonderful performance of "Chasing Fireflies / Never Fly Away" from the Tony Award-winning musical Maybe Happy Ending.

Watch: 'Pirates! The Penzance Musical' performance at the 2025 Tony Awards

The company of Pirates! The Penzance Musical — which includes two-time Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon originating a character — gave viewers a fabulous performance of "Sail the Ocean Blue / Washboards."

Watch: 'Gypsy' performance at the 2025 Tony Awards

Audra McDonald didn't exactly had a lovely week leading up to the 78th Tony Awards… But her performance of Gypsy during the ceremony is certainly going down in history. Sensational!

Watch: 'Floyd Collins' performance at the 2025 Tony Awards

Another standout performance during this year's Tony Awards came from the company of Floyd Collins.

Watch: 'Real Women Have Curves' performance at the 2025 Tony Awards

Audiences cheered loudly for this fabulous performance from the Real Women Have Curves musical.

Watch: Cynthia Erivo's closing number at the 2025 Tony Awards

As the host of this year's ceremony, Cynthia Erivo also wrapped Broadway's Biggest Night with a great closing number.