Awards Season with Attitude, sponsored by discoverlosangeles.com.
Actor Jeffrey Tambor made a plea for Hollywood to recognize transgender talent as he accepted his award for Best Comedy Actor at last night's (September 18) Emmy Awards.
The actor was awarded for his portrayal of Moira Pfefferman, a trans woman in the hit Amazon series, Transparent.
“I’m not going to say this beautifully: to you people out there … please give transgender talent a chance. Give them auditions. Give them their story,” he implored.
“I would be happy if I were the last cisgender male to play a transgender female,” he added.
Transparent creator Jill Soloway used her acceptance speech to praise the role of diversity in television, saying: “when you take people of colour, women, trans people, queer people, as the subjects of stories... you change the world, we found out."
“I’ve always wanted to be part of a movement. This TV show allows me to take my dreams about unlikable Jewish people, queer folk, trans folk, and make them heroes. Thank you to the trans community for your lived lives,” she said before raising her trophy and exclaiming: "Topple the patriarchy!"
Last night's awards also saw Laverne Cox become the first openly trans actress to receive an Emmy nomination. Laverne, who'll be hitting the small screen as Doctor Frank-N-Furter in an upcoming reboot of The Rocky Horror Picture Show this Halloween, also called for greater trans representation while presenting a directing Emmy on Sunday. "Give trans talent a shot... I would not be here tonight if I was not given that chance," she said. We caught up with Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor about the life-changing role late last year. Read the full interview here. Who else scooped one of the main awards at this year's Emmys? Find out below: Outstanding drama series Game of Thrones Outstanding comedy series Veep Outstanding limited series The People v OJ Simpson Best television movie The Abominable Bride Outstanding lead actor in a drama series Rami Malek - Mr Robot Outstanding lead actress in a drama series Tatiana Maslany - Orphan Black Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series Jeffrey Tambor - Transparent Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Veep Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie Courtney B Vance - The People v OJ Simpson Outstanding lead actress in a limited series or movie Sarah Paulson - The People v OJ Simpson Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series Louie Anderson - Baskets Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series Kate McKinnon - Saturday Night Live Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series Ben Mendelsohn - Bloodline Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series Dame Maggie Smith - Downton Abbey Outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie Sterling K Brown - The People v OJ Simpson Outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie Regina King - American Crime Outstanding television movie Sherlock: The Abominable Bride Outstanding reality competition series The Voice Outstanding variety talk series Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
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