A gay night for winners at 57th Tony Awards

The musical, which explores social and racial attitudes of 1962 Baltimore, has played to standing room only audiences since opening in August.

‘‘I think everybody likes to see the fat girl get the hot guy and win,’’ said film maker Waters.

Many of the Tony winners rode a wave of awards night euphoria on Sunday to unabashedly address their gayness or to comment on the phenomenon to the Radio City Music Hall crowd.

The issue was raised early in the broadcast hosted by X-Men star Hugh Jackman when Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, partners in both songwriting and romance, stepped up to receive the Tony for best original score for Hairspray.

‘‘We’re not allowed to get married but I want to declare I love you and I’d like to live with you the rest of my life,’’ said Shaiman, who then kissed Wittman.

Joe Mantello, who won the Tony for his direction of Take Me Out, said, ‘‘I think I just saw two guys kiss on national TV. That’s cool.’’

Denis O’Hare, honoured as best featured actor for his comic portrayal of a gay accountant suddenly enamoured of baseball in Take Me Out, said later: ‘‘It’s Gay Night out there. It’s amazing.’’

The theater community has long been an accepting and nurturing environment for gays and many in the parade of Tony winners took note.

Fierstein, who became a hero of the gay community after writing and starring in the gay-themed play Torch Song Trilogy to earn two Tonys 20 years ago, said he felt honoured to work with all the caring people in the theater world. ‘‘I want to have your babies,’’ the Hairspray star joked in accepting his award for best lead performance in a musical. (Reuters)