The LGBT community was well-represented Sept. 18 at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards.
First, Amazon series Transparent ( which had 10 nominations going into the ceremony ) had a couple winners, including Jeffrey Tambor ( Outstanding Lead Actor, Comedy Series ) and newly out lesbian Jill Soloway ( Outstanding Directing, Comedy Series ). Tambor took time to urge producers to give more roles to transgender actors: "To you people out there … please give transgender talent a chance. Give them auditions. Give them their story. Do that. I would not be unhappy were I the last cisgender male to play a female transgender on television. We have work to do."
Soloway said, "We need to stop violence against transgender women and topple the patriarchy. Topple the patriarchy!"
Actress Sarah Paulsonwho has been in everything from the 1990s series American Gothic to the current show American Horror Story to the movie Django Unchainedwon the Outstanding Lead Actress, Limited Series or Movie award for portraying attorney Marcia Clark in The People v. O.J. Simpson. Paulson apologized to Clark ( who accompanied her to the ceremony ) for having preconceived notionsand also professed her love to her partner, actress Holland Taylor ( TV's Two and a Half Men ).
Speaking of "O.J. Simpson," openly gay co-producer Ryan Murphy was a significant part of the night, as it won the Outstanding Limited Series Emmy, with several actors winning as well; the series had 22 nominations. Executive producer Nina Jacobson thanked her wife during her acceptance speech.
Lesbian actor/comedian Kate McKinnon became the first SNL cast member to win a supporting Emmy in a comedy category.
First-time winner Tatiana Maslany received the lead actress in a drama award for playing multiple human clones ( including a lesbian ) in the BBC America series Orphan Black.
Louie Anderson, known for his stand-up comedy, took home an award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series, for his role in the FX series Baskets as the mother of Zach Galifianakis.
In addition, transgender actress Laverne Cox was a presenter, and she also called for more opportunities for trans actors.
In non-LGBT news, Julia Louis-Dreyfus broke a record with her sixth win for best actress in a comedy series ( Veep ); during her speech, she thanked her father, who passed away Sept. 16. Also, HBO's Game of Thrones broke a record of its own; it now has 38 Emmy victories, overtaking Frasier as the winningest scripted show in the award show's history.
Jimmy Kimmel hosted the event.