November 6, 2024 The Newspaper Serving LGBT Los Angeles

The Emmys Are Gayer Than Ever

By Elijah Root Sanchez

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards may have been the most diverse show yet in terms of LGBTQ+ winners and nominees. From RuPaul to “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: An American Crime Story,” queer and trans actors and LGBTQ+ media won big at the 2018 Emmys.

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” scored big with three nominations, winning Best Reality-Competition Program and Host for a Reality or Reality-Competition Program. It was also nominated for Best Unstructured Reality Program, losing to “United Shades of America w. Kamau Bell.” In his acceptance speech, Ru Paul said the famous and inspirational closing to his award-winning show: “Listen, if you can’t love yourself, how the hell are young going to love somebody else?” Ru Paul, although controversial for his statements about trans drag queens, has done a lot for the acceptance of queer folks in popular culture.

Photo: Facebook.

The Fab Five took home an Emmy for Best Structured Reality Program for Netflix’s critically acclaimed “Queer Eye.” “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: An American Crime Story” also won three Primetime Emmys. Darren Criss won Best Actor Limited Series or TV Movie for his portrayal of Andrew Cunanan, the man who assassinated Gianni Versace and four others in 1997. It also took home Best Limited Series and Best Casting for a Limited Series, Movie, or a Special

Thandie Newton, an openly bisexual actress, won Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her portrayal of Maeve Millay in HBO’s “Westworld.” Newton made headlines for acceptance speech, saying: “I don’t even believe in God, but I gotta thank Her tonight. I am so blessed.” Her excitement and her emotion during her acceptance speech was a highlight of the evening.

Samira Wiley won Best Guess Actress for her appearance in Hulu show “Handmaid’s Tale.” Yance Ford, a transgender director, won Exceptional Merit in Documentary Filmmaking for his Netflix true crime documentary “Strong Island.”

Photo: Facebook.

Many other LGBTQ+ people were nominated, including Sara Paulson for “American Horror Story: Cult,” Lily Tomlin for “Grace and Frankie,” Evan Rachel Wood for “Westworld,” Ricky Martin for “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: An American Crime Story,” Titus Burgess for “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt,” Kate McKinnon for “Saturday Night Live,” Cherry Jones for “The Handmaid’s Tale and Wanda Sykes for “Black-ish.”

Photo: Facebook.

Jane Lynch was nominated for both “Hollywood Game Night” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.”  Ellen DeGeneres was nominated for “Ellen’s Game of Games.” Tim Gunn was also nominated for both Reality or Reality Competition Program and Host for Reality or Reality Competition Program for “Project Runway.”

Director Carrie Brownstein was nominated for “Portlandia.” Benj Pasek was nominated for composing “In The Market For a Miracle” for “A Christmas Story Live!” on FOX. Mark Rivers was also nominated for composing the song “Totally Gay” for Netflix’s “Big Mouth.”

Photo: Facebook.

It is exciting to see so many not only LGBTQ+ roles, but subject matter, actors, writers and directors too being nominated or winning awards at this year’s Primetime Emmy Awards. Hopefully other award shows continue this trend and start to recognize LGBTQ+ people in the industry for all the exemplary work that they produce.

The 70th Primetime Emmy Awards ran Monday, Sept. 17 on NBC.

Related Posts

Suspect Pleads Guilty in Scheme to Sell Stolen Warhol Artwork in Beverly Hills Auction House

October 1, 2024

October 1, 2024

The Warhol Print Was Originally Sold by a West Hollywood Gallery  Brian Alec Light, 58, of Hudson, Ohio, is expected...

Santa Monica Artist Dave Quick’s “Return from the Burn” Exhibition to Open at Bergamot’s Lois Lambert Gallery

July 10, 2024

July 10, 2024

Pre-Burning Man Showcase Features Kinetic Art and Sculptures Coated with Playa Dust, Opens July 13 With upwards of 80,000 attendees,...

Film Review: Down Low

July 30, 2023

July 30, 2023

FILM REVIEWDOWN LOWRated R90 MinutesReleased March 11, 2023 By Dolores Quintana “Down Low” is funny. It’s a lean 90 minutes...

Film Review: The People’s Joker

July 23, 2023

July 23, 2023

FILM REVIEWThe People’s JokerUnrated92 MinutesReleased September 13, 2022 (Toronto Film Festival) By Dolores Quintana “The People’s Joker” is a heartfelt...

Skin Laundry Laser Focuses On Rejuvenating Skin

July 12, 2023

July 12, 2023

Facials don’t have to be invasive. That’s why Skin Laundry has taken a revolutionary approach to skincare technology, making the...

The Problem with Pride Outfits and How You Can Change It

February 20, 2023

February 20, 2023

Since pride month’s official declaration in 1999, we’re reminded every June of how far America has come following New York...

Happening Now: West Hollywood’s LGBTQ+ Arts Festival

May 23, 2022

May 23, 2022

By Susan Payne Happening now through the end of June, WeHo Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival celebrates the artistic contributions of...

California Trans Child Molester Gets 2 Years In Juvenile Facility

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

A Los Angeles County judge ordered Hannah Tubbs, a transgender California woman, to serve two years in a juvenile facility...

Homeless Initiative Meeting In West Hollywood

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

The City of West Hollywood’s Homeless Initiative works to address homelessness with a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency, collaborative response. It’s estimated that...

WeHo Premieres the ‘Moving Image Media Art’ Exhibition Series

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

The City of West Hollywood announces the premiere of the Moving Image Media Art (MIMA) program and the worldwide debut...

LA Street Will Potentially Be Named After Anti-LGBTQ Singer

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

A portion of Bailey Street may be renamed to the late Mexican Mariachi singer ” Vicente Fernandez Street’ – a...

WeHo Spreads Word About Free Covid Testing

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

The City of West Hollywood is reminding residents that free COVID-19 testing is available for them.  Demand for COVID-19 testing...

Green Qween New Queer-Owned Cannabis Shop Will Open Downtown

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

Green Qween, a new queer-owned and queer-driven cannabis shop, will open in downtown on April 20th.  The shops owners, Andrés...

2022 ‘WeHo Reads’ Series Celebrates the ‘Road to Joy’

February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022

The City of West Hollywood invites community members to celebrate literature and local authors with its 2022 WeHo Reads literary...

New CA Law Helps With Transgender Deadnames

January 18, 2022

January 18, 2022

A new California law requires public colleges to update diplomas and records for transgender students who have changed their names....