Qween Jean, the visionary costume designer behind Broadway’s Cats: The Jellicle Ball, has officially made history as the first openly trans person to win a Tony Award. Jean secured the prestigious honor for Best Costume Design of a Musical during the 79th Annual Tony Awards pre-show at Radio City Music Hall, an event hosted by Laura Benanti and Tituss Burgess.
Reflecting on the monumental achievement during her acceptance speech, Jean emphasized the importance of visibility and advocacy. “This experience has been monumental,” she stated. “We are here for the legacy of queer people, trans people. We are taking up space in ways we have to take up space. We have to shift the paradigm. So I just want to say, thank you all so much for this incredible honor. The world right now is deeply, deeply combating so many ailments, and we know as a society that when we come together, we can make real, permanent change.”
Beyond her design work, Jean is a dedicated activist and a founder of Black Trans Liberation. She used her platform to draw attention to pressing social justice issues, specifically calling for the closure and investigation of the Newark Delaney Facility. “Pride is a protest,” she declared. “In this moment, we are seeing all across the city people, queer people, young folks, parents are being detained. The police cannot investigate the police. It doesn’t make sense that billions are being poured into an institution of destruction when resources can be used to help people.”
Jean concluded her remarks with a powerful call to solidarity. “As a queer person, a leader, a mother, I will never stand quiet. If any woman is in pain, even if her shackles are different from mine, let’s get unshackled.”
The designer’s historic win follows a night of double recognition, as she was also nominated for Best Costume Design of a Play for Liberation. Notably, Jean also designed her own gown for the ceremony. While non-binary artists such as Cole Escola, Alex Newell, J. Harrison Ghee, and Toby Marlow have previously won Tony Awards, Jean’s victory marks a significant milestone as the first openly trans individual to receive the accolade in the ceremony’s 79-year history.