GLAAD Lobbies Television Academy to Vote for ‘Pose’ as Emmy Nominations Open

FX’s now-ended “Pose” received a very strong Emmy-nomination endorsement from GLAAD and 39 other LGBTQ+ organizations and film festivals Thursday, when the groups submitted a joint open letter to the Television Academy telling them in no uncertain terms that it was time to honor “Pose” and its transgender and nonbinary actors: Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, Hailie Sahar and Angelica Ross.

“For far too long, the transgender community has lived on the sidelines,” states the letter, which was submitted to Emmy voters today, the first day nominations opened. “Since the creation of moving pictures, this part of our own community has been represented through harmful depictions that have had a real-world impact on their lives.”

The letter, which was organized by GLAAD and signed by Black AIDS Institute, Family Equality Council, Frameline, GLSEN, Inside Out, Harlem Pride, Human Rights Campaign, Lambda Legal, National LGBTQ Task Force, National Center for Lesbian Rights, Newfest, Outfest, Transgender Law Center, The Trevor Project, True Colors United and more organizations, goes on to say that, “While Billy Porter became the first openly gay Black man to win an Emmy for his performance in ‘Pose,’ and although the show also received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series in its first season, more recognition is merited now.”

“The talented transgender actresses, actors, and non-binary performers in this series have not yet been honored by Television Academy members and their performances deserve acknowledgment. In 2021 – with ‘Pose’ third and final season – this once in a lifetime moment is right now. Voting for the 73rd Annual Emmy Awards nominations takes place June 17-28. During this time, in a year when so many continue to say that Black Trans Lives Matter, Television Academy voters should nominate the deserving transgender and nonbinary actors who lead this series – Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, Hailie Sahar, and Angelica Ross – in their respective categories, along with the series overall.”

The letter says that voting for “Pose,” which was co-created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals, “would signal that many of the issues the show so poignantly addresses – transphobia, homophobia, racism, homelessness, poverty, violence against the trans community, Black and brown queer voices, and the AIDS epidemic – very much matter.”

In a statement released along with the letter, GLAAD president and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis said “‘Pose’ broke new ground for transgender inclusion both in front of and behind the camera, leaving behind a legacy that will change the future of trans representation on television.”

Ellis continued: “In its final season, TV Academy voters must acknowledge the importance of telling and recognizing diverse storytelling, which includes the performances of trans people of color who have been overlooked for far too long.”

See the full text of the letter submitted from GLAAD and the other organizations to Emmy voters below.

An Open Letter to Emmy Award Voters,

This television season Emmys voters have the opportunity to make history — an opportunity to celebrate an entire underrepresented community that hasn’t been valued for their artistic vision, creativity, or contributions… An opportunity to nominate truly worthy performances… An opportunity to help validate that the category, indeed, is love. 

Never before have the largest national LGBTQ organizations – along with the four largest North American LGBTQ film festivals – come together to pen an open letter in support of a single series’ worthiness for recognition at the Emmy Awards. This year—and this inimitable moment—is especially meaningful. According to GLAAD’s data, when POSE finished its series run on FX in early June 2021, scripted television was left with zero characters living with HIV and only 21 transgender regular characters. 

In the course of its three groundbreaking seasons, POSE (co-created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals) transformed the landscape of transgender representation in Hollywood and educated the world on who transgender people are, all while entertaining audiences with high energy, compelling drama, and authentic storytelling. With its final season, POSE has struck an undeniable emotional and cultural chord that will not be soon forgotten. 

For far too long, the transgender community has lived on the sidelines. Since the creation of moving pictures, this part of our own community has been represented through harmful depictions that have had a real-world impact on their lives. The documentary Disclosure on Netflix showed the world that for over 100 years, transgender people have been misrepresented in film and television. 

While Billy Porter became the first openly gay Black man to win an Emmy for his performance in POSE, and although the show also received a nomination for Outstanding Drama Series in its first season, more recognition is merited now. The talented transgender actresses, actors, and non-binary performers in this series have not yet been honored by Television Academy members and their performances deserve acknowledgment. In 2021 – with POSE’s third and final season – this once in a lifetime moment is right now. 

Voting for the 73rd Annual Emmy Awards nominations takes place June 17-28. During this time, in a year when so many continue to say that Black Trans Lives Matter, Television Academy voters should nominate the deserving transgender and nonbinary actors who lead this series – Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, Hailie Sahar, and Angelica Ross – in their respective categories, along with the series overall. 

Not only are these performances in this Peabody Award, AFI Award, and GLAAD Media Award-winning show of the highest caliber, but voting for POSE would signal that many of the issues the show so poignantly addresses – transphobia, homophobia, racism, homelessness, poverty, violence against the trans community, Black and brown queer voices, and the AIDS epidemic – very much matter.

If there was any moment to show solidarity and support for the performers and characters who are leading the change, now would be that time.

Signed, 

Arianna’s Center/Translatina Florida

Athlete Ally

Black AIDS Institute

Brothers United Network

Campus Pride

CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers

COLAGE

Counter Narrative Project

Crystal LaBeija Organizing Fellowship

Family Equality Council

Frameline

Georgia Equality

GLAAD

GLSEN

Harlem Pride

Human Rights Campaign (HRC)

Inside Out 2SLGBTQ+ Festival

Keeping Ballroom Community Alive Network (KBCAN)

Lambda Legal

Latino Commission on AIDS

Latino Equality Alliance 

Mobilizing Our Brothers Initiative (MOBI)

Nashville Black Pride

National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)

National LGBTQ Task Force

National Queer Theater

NewFest

NOLA Hype

Oasis Center

Organización Latina de Trans en Texas

Outfest

SAVE LGBT

The Bros in Convo Initiative

The Normal Anomaly Initiative

Thrive Support Services

Transgender Law Center

Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF)

Trevor Project

Tru Evolution

True Colors United