Emmy Nominations Include LGBT Diversity

From The Advocate -- by Tracey E. Gilchrist

If there were any lingering questions about network television’s dwindling ability to nab Emmy nominations, it was answered with the announcement of this year’s nominees, overwhelmingly skewed toward cable and streaming sites as well as toward fresh, queer, intersectional television. Nearly every category features a nominee in an LGBT role or queer-leaning show, if not an out actor, and that bodes well for the future of representation on the small and increasingly smaller screens.

Among the standout series nominated that feature LGBT characters, themes, or actors are The Handmaid’s Tale, Westworld, Master of None, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and the perennial favorite Modern Family. Additionally, shows that landed big with LGBT audiences and earned nominations include Stranger Things, Big Little Lies, and Feud: Bette and Joan (from out creator Ryan Murphy). The cult-like devotion to Black Mirror’s queer-themed "San Junipero" episode starring Gugu Mbatha-Raw and Mackenzie Davis did not go unnoticed. It earned a nomination for Outstanding Television Movie.

It was another good year for RuPaul’s Drag Race, with the reality competition show garnering eight nominations, including for Outstanding Reality Competition and for Reality Competition Host, which RuPaul won last year and again this year (already awarded earlier).

Out actors pulled in several nominations across the board. Evan Rachel Wood and Lily Tomlin scored nominations for their lead roles in Westworld and Grace and Frankie, respectively, while supporting categories include Samira Wiley for The Handmaid’s Tale, Tituss Burgess for Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and Kate McKinnon for Saturday Night Live. Orange Is the New Black'sLaverne Cox and Strangers Things's Shannon Purser landed nominations for guest star in a drama.

The 69th Emmy Award telecast is tonight, September 17th.

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