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Transparent’s Jeffrey Tambor pleas: “give transgender talent a chance” at the Emmys

By Josh Lee

awards-banner-black-1024x340-1Awards Season with Attitude, sponsored by discoverlosangeles.com.

Actor Jeffrey Tambor made a plea for Hollywood to recognize transgender talent as he accepted his award for Best Comedy Actor at last night’s (September 18) Emmy Awards.

The actor was awarded for his portrayal of Moira Pfefferman, a trans woman in the hit Amazon series, Transparent.

“I’m not going to say this beautifully: to you people out there … please give transgender talent a chance. Give them auditions. Give them their story,” he implored.

“I would be happy if I were the last cisgender male to play a transgender female,” he added.

Transparent creator Jill Soloway used her acceptance speech to praise the role of diversity in television, saying: “when you take people of colour, women, trans people, queer people, as the subjects of stories… you change the world, we found out.”

“I’ve always wanted to be part of a movement. This TV show allows me to take my dreams about unlikable Jewish people, queer folk, trans folk, and make them heroes. Thank you to the trans community for your lived lives,” she said before raising her trophy and exclaiming: “Topple the patriarchy!”

Last night’s awards also saw Laverne Cox become the first openly trans actress to receive an Emmy nomination.

Laverne, who’ll be hitting the small screen as Doctor Frank-N-Furter in an upcoming reboot of The Rocky Horror Picture Show this Halloween, also called for greater trans representation while presenting a directing Emmy on Sunday.

“Give trans talent a shot… I would not be here tonight if I was not given that chance,” she said.

We caught up with Transparent star Jeffrey Tambor about the life-changing role late last year. Read the full interview here.

Who else scooped one of the main awards at this year’s Emmys? Find out below:

Outstanding drama series

Game of Thrones

Outstanding comedy series

Veep

Outstanding limited series

The People v OJ Simpson

Best television movie

The Abominable Bride

Outstanding lead actor in a drama series

Rami Malek – Mr Robot

Outstanding lead actress in a drama series

Tatiana Maslany – Orphan Black

Outstanding lead actor in a comedy series

Jeffrey Tambor – Transparent

Outstanding lead actress in a comedy series

Julia Louis-Dreyfus – Veep

Outstanding lead actor in a limited series or movie

Courtney B Vance – The People v OJ Simpson

Outstanding lead actress in a limited series or movie

Sarah Paulson – The People v OJ Simpson

Outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series

Louie Anderson – Baskets

Outstanding supporting actress in a comedy series

Kate McKinnon – Saturday Night Live

Outstanding supporting actor in a drama series

Ben Mendelsohn – Bloodline

Outstanding supporting actress in a drama series

Dame Maggie Smith – Downton Abbey

Outstanding supporting actor in a limited series or movie

Sterling K Brown – The People v OJ Simpson

Outstanding supporting actress in a limited series or movie

Regina King – American Crime

Outstanding television movie

Sherlock: The Abominable Bride

Outstanding reality competition series

The Voice

Outstanding variety talk series

Last Week Tonight With John Oliver

awards-banner-black-1024x340-1Read more:Queen Elizabeth’s cousin comes out as gayNorth Carolina considers repealing anti-trans HB2 law