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Emmys Snub Transgender Stars of Pose, EuphoriaÂ
Emmys Snub Transgender Stars of Pose, EuphoriaÂ
A breakout year for transgender actors went unrecognized by the Television Academy.
It was a breakout year for transgender actors in Hollywood -- but that was not reflected in this year's Emmy nominations.
Notably, Pose, despite consistently receiving critical acclaim, once again saw snubs for all of the transgender actors who appear in the FX production about the New York ballroom scene. Cisgender actor Billy Porter received the only nod this year (his second from the Television Academy) for his role of Pray Tell.
The news that Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, and Angelica Ross were sidelined -- Pose itself also did not make it into the Best Drama category this year -- was met with some outrage on social media.
\u201cYou're telling me that a cis actor is the only one worth nominating or elevating on a show that centers the Black trans experience? Y'all playing in our faces yet again.\n\nThe Black trans women who work on #PoseFX deserve so much more recognition from the #Emmys2020 and beyond.\u201d— Raquel Willis (she/her) (@Raquel Willis (she/her)) 1595952353
\u201cOkay, real talk... what does @MjRodriguez7 have to do - aside from baring her heart & pouring her soul into every damn scene - to get a Best Actress nomination?! #PoseFX #Emmys\u201d— Steven Canals (@Steven Canals) 1595957585
When a Twitter user pointed out that members of the Television Academy were likely voting based on name recognition, Moore blamed the network for "weak ass promotion" of Pose's stars. "'they' Dont trust us on live TV. Esp. Me lol," Moore said. They also noted that, historically, cisgender actors routinely received critical acclaim for portraying trans roles, a trend that has not benefited trans actors for doing the same.
Hunter Schafer was another notable snub of a transgender performer. Although Euphoria fans saw vindication in Zendaya's nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series, Schafer's arc as trans teen Jules Vaughn was a breakout role in the gritty show about young people looking for love and drugs.
\u201cthe hunter schafer erasure\u201d— lindstat de lioncourt \ud83e\ude78 (@lindstat de lioncourt \ud83e\ude78) 1595958047
(Related: Hunter Schafer Embraces Euphoria's ;'Feminine and Loving Queerness')
Other standout transgender or nonbinary performers who failed to grab an Emmy nod include Jen Richards (Tales of the City), Theo Germaine (Work in Progress), Shakina Nayfack (Transparent Musicale Finale), Ser Anzoategui (Vida), and Leo Sheng (The L Word: Generation Q).
In a bright spot, Laverne Cox did receive a nomination for Guest Actress, Drama for the final season of Orange Is the New Black. Rain Valdez, who depicted Belle Jonas in Razor Tongue, also nabbed a nod for Outstanding Actress in a Short Form Comedy or Drama series.
Read the full list of Emmy nominees and LGBTQ+ highlights.
