Emmy’s Best Comedy Director: We Have a Transgender ‘Civil Rights Problem’

Amazon and Netflix secured three Emmy victories Sunday for Transparent and Orange Is the New Black, but the most meaningful moment for the streaming services was during Transparent creator Jill Soloway’s speech for Outstanding Directing for a Comedy. But “Transparent” is one of the most sensitive and powerful depictions of trans life onscreen right now, and it was a thrill to see the show honored – and to see Soloway and Tambor make good use of their platform.

Here are Tambor’s and Soloway’ acceptance speeches, both of which drew attention to transgender inequality.

“We don’t have a trans tipping point yet – we have a trans and civil rights problem”, Soloway proclaimed before urging people to help the transgender movement.

“Maybe she’ll be back for Season 3”, Soloway said at Variety and Women in Film’s annual pre-Emmy party Friday night at Gracias Madre in West Hollywood, Calif.

He dedicated his award to the transgender community, which faces disproportionately high rates of discrimination, harassment, unemployment, and homelessness.

She also gave shout-outs to her show’s stars and producers as well as her family, singling out her own father, a psychiatrist who came out as transgender and is now her “mapa”. In January, Tambor won a Golden Globe for “Transparent”, which also was named best comedy series. Thank you for your inspiration.

Jeffrey Tambor became the first actor ever to win an Emmy for playing a trans character, and when accepting his statue for lead actor in a comedy, he recognized the importance of the moment. Thank you for your stories.