LGBT Films Sweep Major Categories at Golden Globes

Beverly Hills, CA - It was a gay night at the Golden Globes Monday as LGBT themed films swept all the major categories, including a Best Picture win for Brokeback Mountain.

The film, which scored seven nominations, the most of any film for the night, also took honors for Best Screenplay, Best Director for Ang Lee and Best Original Song for "A Love That Will Never Grow Old.”

Best Actor in a Drama nominee Heath Ledger, who many industry insiders had favored to win going into the awards, lost out to another actor playing gay. Phillip Seymour Hoffman took top honors in that category as gay In Cold Blood author Truman Capote in Capote.

Felicity Huffman took Best Actress honors for her raw, stripped-down performance as a male to female transgender woman in Transamerica. Huffman, who has admitted in interviews playing this role changed her perception of the trans community, took a moment to speak to the bravery of the many men and women for whom this film speaks.

“I want to salute all of the men and women who brave ostracism… and a life lived on the margins to be who they really are.”

Huffman was also nominated for her Emmy-winning role as Lynette Scavo on Desperate Housewives. She lost that award to Mary Louise Parker for her performance as another sort of desperate housewife, a pot dealing momma on Showtime’s Weeds.

Michelle Williams, who took home Best Supporting Actress honors for tortured wife Alma Del Mar in Brokeback Mountain at the Critics Choice Awards last week, lost in that category to Constant Gardner star Rachel Weisz.

Williams attended the ceremony with new husband Ledger, one of their first outings as a couple in the United States since becoming first time parents in November.

George Clooney took home the first award of the night for Best Supporting Actor in Syriana. He was also nominated in the Best Director category for Good Night, and Good Luck.

“This is early in the night,” Clooney said. “I haven’t had a drink yet. I’m up here alone.”

On the television front, Geena Davis gave one of the evening’s most inspired speeches, accepting her award for Best Actress in a Drama as the President of the United States on Commander in Chief.

In it, she thanked a little girl who tugged on her dress just before the ceremony and said because of her, she wanted to be president that day.

“OK, so that didn’t happen,” Davis then cracked. “But it very well could have… and if it had, it would have made this all worth while.”

Walk the Line stars Reese Witherspoon and Joaquin Phoenix took top honors in the Best Actress and Actor in a Musical/Comedy for their critically acclaimed turns as June and Johnny Cash.

Witherspoon attended the ceremonies with hubby Ryan Phillippe, who bet Phoenix everything the actor had in his pocket that he would win Best Actor honors.

In the end, Phoenix coughted up $220.

Desperate Housewives won for Best Comedy Series a second year in a row, as did Lost, taking honors for top drama.

2006 Golden Globe Winners

Film

Best Film - Brokeback Mountain

Best Actor - Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote

Best Actress - Felicity Huffman, Transamerica

Best Film, Comedy/Musical - Walk the Line

Best Actor, Musical/Comedy - Joaquin Phoenix, Walk the Line

Best Actress Musical/Comedy - Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line

Best Director - Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain

Best Song – “A Love That Will Never Grow Old”, Brokeback Mountain

Best Score - Memoirs of a Geisha, John Williams

Best Foreign Film - Paradise Now

Best Screenplay - Brokeback Mountain

Best Supporting Actor - George Clooney, Syriana

Best Supporting Actress - Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardner

Television

Best Dramatic Series – Lost

Best Actress, Television Drama - Geena Davis, Commander in Chief

Best Actor, Television Drama - Hugh Laurie, House

Best Comedy Series - Desperate Housewives

Best Actor, Television Comedy - Steve Carrell, The Office

Best Actress, Television Comedy - Mary Louise Parker, Weeds

Best Actress, Mini-Series - S. Epatha Merkerson, Lackawanna Blues

Best Actor, Mini-Series - Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Elvis

Best Supporting Actor, Television - Paul Newman, Empire Falls

Best Supporting Actress, Television - Sandra Oh, Grey's Anatomy

Best TV Mini-Series - Empire Falls