All The LGBTQ Nominations At The 2020 Emmy's
The 72nd Emmy Awards find us at a time of civil unrest in America. With Black Lives Matter protests and demands for social justice sweeping the nation, representation of diverse voices and stories in Hollywood matter now more than ever. This year, the Emmy nominations show that progress is possible, with 36 people of color and 14 openly LGBTQ+ actors/comedians nominated. This is a significant improvement from the nominations list in 2019, which saw only 24 nominations for people of color and 8 nominations for LGBTQ+ actors/hosts.
Though the boost in diversity is a step towards more inclusion, it could be a lot better. Asian, indigenous, latinx, and other marginalized folks certainly deserve better on the ballot, and the cast of Pose (the majority of whom are trans women) have deserved recognition beyond Billy Porter, the show’s only cisgendered nominee.
We can only hope that this year’s uptick in diversity is a part of the collective shift towards inclusion in the entertainment industry and not just a programmed response to a social movement. Only time will tell if the future of award television continues to move towards progress, but for now, let’s take a moment to celebrate all of this year’s LGBTQ nominated shows and actors.
Nominated LGBTQ Shows Or Shows With LGBTQ Storylines
Schitt’s Creek
Nominated For Outstanding Comedy Series
Nominated for a whopping 15 Emmy nominations, Schitt’s Creek gave us six seasons of comedic gold before leaving the air in 2020. Under Dan Levy’s creative genius, the Rose family charmed audiences all over the globe. This is Schitt’s Creek’s second year in the spotlight at the Emmy’s, and with nominations across the board, the beloved show is sure to pocket a few well-deserved wins.
Killing Eve
Nominated For Outstanding Drama Series
If you’re not watching this lesbian cult classic or swooning over TV’s most fashionable queer assassin, sorry baby. You can’t award show with us. Killing Eve is nominated for 8 Emmy’s and not a soul among us was surprised to see Contemporary Costumes on the list.
Dead To Me
Nominated For Outstanding Comedy Series
In a cruel and unjust 2020, lesbian creator Liz Feldman gave us the gift of Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate in a gripping season of Dead To Me somehow even more bingeworthy than the first. This year, Cardellini and Applegate are nominated in the same category of Outstanding Lead Actress In A Comedy Series, so the barbarism of 2020 continues. How is anyone supposed to choose? (I’m team Judy, obviously.)
Queer Eye
Nominated For Structured Reality Program
The Fab Five brought a staggering seven nominations to Queer Eye, with categories ranging from Outstanding Production Design to Outstanding Hosting. I love a good Queer Eye, but please ring my bell when Bobby finally gets his own show because those flips are gorgeous, henny.
Ru Paul’s Drag Race
Nominated For Outstanding Reality Show Competition
The 12th season of Ru Paul’s Drag Race is nominated in 10 different categories this year, adding to its truly impressive long standing Emmy streak. Ru Paul also snatched up a nomination for Outstanding Host, which he has been racking up in consecutive years since 2016.
Nominated LGBTQ Actors
Billy Porter in Pose
Nominated For Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series
In 2019, Billy Porter became the first black openly gay man to win the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series. This year, Porter is nominated for his performance in the same role, the infamous ballroom emcee Pray Tell. Porter stated he has “conflicting thoughts” about the nomination because his trans and non-binary co-stars have substantially larger roles. Notably, all were snubbed from nominations, making Porter the only cisgendered Pose nominee.
Jeremy Pope in Hollywood
Nominated For Lead Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie
Ryan Murphy has struck casting gold again. Jeremy Pope celebrates his first Emmy nomination this year for his debut role as Archie Colman in Pose. I’d also like to nominate those dimples for a category all their own.
Rain Valdez in Razor Tongue
Nominated For Outstanding Actress In A Short Form Comedy Or Drama Series
With her first Emmy nomination, Rain Valdez becomes the second transgender actress nominated in the category of Outstanding Actress In A Drama Series after Laverne Cox in 2014. Razor Tongue is a crowdfunded Youtube series that deftly tackles the importance of self-love in a misogynistic world. With an all female directing team and 80% trans, queer, female and POC identified people in front of and behind the camera, it’s a definitely a series worth the watch.
Laverne Cox in Orange Is The New Black
Nominated For Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Is it just me or did this show end like five years ago? Regardless, Laverne Cox is a queen and it’s time she takes home the crown. With 3 previous nominations and no wins, our fingers are crossed this is her year. Laverne brought a crucial level of humanity to a challenging storyline, and helped put trans rights in mainstream pop culture.
Wanda Sykes in The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Nominated For Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series
Between Jane Lynch and Wanda Sykes, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel boasts some serious lesbian comedic talent. Sykes joined the Maisel cast in the guest role of Moms Mabley, a vaudeville comedian from the 1920’s. Upon receiving the Emmy nod, Sykes shared that Mabley is the reason she entered the world of comedy. Easy to see how this passion shone through!
Kate Mckinnon on Saturday Night Live
Nominated For Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series
Look—I’ve been casually crying out for Kate McKinnon to deliver us from Ellen for years. With this seventh Emmy nomination of the category, it’s obvious the lesbian Academy agrees with me. Cut, print, roll the damn tape.
Tituss Burgess in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Nominated For Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie
Nominated for the 5th time for his show-stopping performance of Titus Andromedon, Tituss Burgess is one of the most celebrated comedic characters in recent Netflix history. Desperately hoping he arrives to the ceremony in the iconic peacock ensemble from season three, even if it is held virtually.
Samira Wiley in The Handmaid’s Tale
Nominated For Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
Is anyone out there voting against a lesbian leading the rebellion against Trump’s Gilead? Absolutely not. That’s why we’re especially amped about Samira Wiley’s nomination for playing Moira in The Handmaid’s Tale. Give her the Emmy!
Jim Parsons in Hollywood
Nominated For Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Limited Series Or Movie
Jim Parsons finally escaped the clutches of his Big Bang past and carved out a new spot in television with his role of Henry Willson in Hollywood. A far cry from the outcast genius Sheldon Cooper, Parsons is reborn in the role of this sleazy, villainous talent agent.
Fiona Shaw in Killing Eve
Nominated For Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Drama Series
The incomparable Fiona Shaw slides into the Emmy conversation after her double nomination in 2019 for her roles in Killing Eve and Fleabag. Shaw delivered an all-too-real performance of the cold, calculating, immaculately dressed Carolyn Martens.
Andrew Scott in Black Mirror
Nominated For Outstanding Guest Actor In A Drama Series
Hot priest turns cold criminal in Black Mirror’s episode titled Smithereens. Andrew Scott’s first Emmy nomination comes from his dark portrayal of a twisted rideshare driver in the show’s fifth season. Looks like a Fleabag reunion is in the works at this year’s ceremony as Phoebe Waller-Bridge is also nominated for the Guest Actress award for her performance on SNL.
Holland Taylor in Hollywood
Nominated For Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie
Holland Taylor, also known as the most enviable woman on earth, stole every scene as studio executive Ellen Kincaid in Ryan Murphy’s revisionist history Netflix hit. A legend of Hollywood in her own right, we’re glad to see her name on the list.
Cherry Jones in Succession
Nominated For Outstanding Guest Actress In A Drama Series
Also nominated for outstanding style icon of my lesbian vision board, Cherry Jones never fails to brandish prowess and power on screen. Adding to her nominations in the Guest Actress category (she won in 2019 for her appearance on The Handmaid’s Tale), Jones caught the eye of the Academy as the formidable Nan Pierce on HBO’s hit series, Succession. Only Cherry Jones could’ve hit those faux-folksy + lesbian mom energy notes that she brought to the role.
Dan Levy in Schitt’s Creek
Nominated For Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series
First things first, I would love to know how Dan Levy is considered supporting on Schitt’s Creek when David is literally the shining star of Schitt’s Creek, but the important thing here is that Levy is deserving of recognition for this gem of a role. Beyond his comedic talent, playing one of TV’s first pansexual characters and changing the lives of so many LGBTQ youth are just the cherries on top.
Actors Nominated For LGBTQ Roles
Zendaya In Euphoria
Nominated For Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Zendaya sky-rocketed to stardom with her role of Rue on HBO’s hard-hitting, queer coming-of-age drama, Euphoria. If Zendaya wins the category, she’ll follow in the footsteps of Jodie Comer, who also won the Emmy for her portrayal of queer character Villanelle on Killing Eve in 2019.
Kerry Washington in Little Fires Everywhere
Nominated For Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie
Acting alongside Reese Witherspoon in the novel to TV adaptation, Kerry Washington brought an interesting take to the role of bisexual bohemian artist, Mia Warren. Kerry was a little spicier than I expected (okay, she was downright diablo), but she hit the right notes for enough people to earn this nod.
Jodie Comer in Killing Eve
Nominated For Outstanding Lead Actress In A Drama Series
Last but unequivocally not least, Jodie Comer graces the nominations for her performance as the most diabolically charming psychopath in recent television, Villanelle. Her performance literally invigorated lesbians across the globe and therefore, anything less than an Emmy would be a merciless crime. Besides, when was the last time you saw an assassin who served up this much eye candy? I rest my case.
