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Sunday night’s 70th annual Tony Awards weren’t allowed to be merely a celebration of the best of a very strong year in theater, nor even simply a coronation for the world-dominating musical Hamilton. The deadly attack on an Orlando gay bar in the wee hours of Sunday morning meant that nothing that happened yesterday would happen without that cloud over it. Host James Corden opened the Tonys broadcast with a moment of somber reflection and a pledge that the night’s show would be a celebration of the spirit of inclusiveness that pervades Broadway.

Corden kept his promise, presiding over a celebratory night full of joyous performances and warm-hearted speeches. A handful of award winners addressed the Orlando tragedy directly. Best Actor in a Play Frank Langella read some lines about emerging from tragedy stronger than before; similarly, Best Actress winner Jessica Lange noted the terrible pall that had been cast earlier. What was notable — not sinister, not shameful, but notable — was that none of the speakers who addressed Orlando specifically referenced the anti-gay nature of the massacre.

The exception to this was Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator of Hamilton, whose acceptance speech for Best Score featured a sonnet (no more freestyle speeches, he’s too old):

“We chase the melodies that seem to find us until they’re finished songs and start to play. When senseless acts of tragedy remind us that nothing here is promised, not one day. The show is proof that history remembers; we live through times when hate and fear seem stronger. We rise and fall and light from dying embers, remembrances that hope and love last longer. And love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love is love cannot be killed or swept aside. I sing Vanessa’s symphony, Eliza tells her story, now fill the world with music, love, and pride.”

First of all: that is an acceptance speech for the all-time reels, and one that will not soon be forgotten. Miranda has a knack for this, a wide-open sincerity and exuberance and kind-heartedness that makes him especially suited for accepting awards (good thing, because he’s gotten pretty much all of them). But aside from being a rousing emotional crescendo, Miranda’s speech was the only one to specifically nod to the gay victims in Orlando. “Love is love” has been a gay rallying cry since the marriage equality movement. The last word of the speech is “pride.”

Again, that there were no more overt shout-outs to the gay community is not some sinister act. For one thing, in a bit of an odd occurrence for the Tonys, there weren’t very many gay winners, including none of the acting winners. Not to mention that after a tragedy there is an impulse towards unification. We’re all in this together. No one is alone. (Yes, I’m quoting lines from actual musicals, but they’re universal lyrics for a reason.) But on a day when some newsmedia had earlier in the day been reticent to even label Orlando’s Pulse as a gay night spot, Miranda’s speech was even more of a standout. A moment for love AND a moment for pride.