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The Queer Energy of This Year’s Emmys Can’t Be Denied
From fashion moments to winners, the girls showed up and showed out at this year’s ceremony.
TV's biggest night has come and gone, and considering the Emmys don't have the same kind of big-budget shenanigans (and celebrities) as the Oscars, they were relatively painless. They were also pretty darn queer this year in terms of who took home the night's top prizes, what those stars said in their acceptance speeches, and the energy queer celebrities brought to the purple carpet.
In case you weren't watching, these were the nights biggest queer moments.
Budding fashion muse and Pose star Indya Moore stormed the purple carpet and -- as my mom said in a text -- "slayed" and looked "fucking gorgeous" in custom Louis Vuitton. Speaking with reporters, Moore said acknowledged that "there are not many transgender people in the fashion space being recognized as designer muses." They also said of the dress: "iI's more tricky to exist than to walk in this dress."
Cox, a nominee for Orange Is the New Black, used her choice of date and look to remind viewers about the significance of October 8, when the Supreme Court will consider federal employment protection for LGBTQ+ employees.
Clea DuVall and Natasha Lyonne reunited
Clea DuVall and Natasha Lyonne, the latter of whom was nominated for Netflix's Russian Doll, posed for photos before the ceremony in a tablea straight from their iconic July 2000 Out cover. Ah, that's herstory.
Besides Moore, queer attendees like Pose's Mj Rodriguez, as well as Billy Porter, RuPaul, Laverne Cox, and Lily Singh, had some of the night's best fashion moments.
Patricia Arquette honors her sister and calls for trans equality
In a moving acceptance speech for her role in Hulu's The Act, Patricia Arquette honored her sister, Alexis, who died in 2016, and used her platform to make an impassioned plea on behalf of trans folks. "Trans people are still being persecuted and I'm in mourning every day of my life, Alexis, and I will be the rest of my life for you until we change the world so trans people are not persecuted," she said.
Ben Whishaw thanked his husband during his acceptance speech
English cutie Ben Whishaw won big for his very gay role in A Very English Scandal and thanked husband Mark "for his love and his support and for keeping [him] somewhat sane" in his acceptance speech. Love wins!
RuPaul celebrated his win with a big ol' smooch
RuPaul once again took home the Emmy for Best Reality Competition Program, and before taking the stage to accept the award, he shared a loving kiss with husband, Georges LeBar. "We are so proud of this show and we're so happy for all the gorgeous kids who come on and show how fabulous they are," the drag icon said in his speech, although he was a bit less eloquent when faced with tough questions about Drag Race's lack of diversity in the press room.
Jodie Comer won for playing a queer sociopath
Jodie Comer won her first acting Emmy for playing Killing Eve's Villanelle, a stylish queer assassin -- my personal favorite archetype!
Pose earned two historic nominations this year, and Billy Porter made herstory by becoming the first openly gay Black man to win an acting Emmy, taking the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. "'It took many years of vomiting up all the filth I'd been taught about myself, and half-believed, before I was able to walk on the Earth as though I had a right to be here,'" he said in his acceptance speech. "I have the right. You have the right. We all have the right."
See you at the Golden Globes!
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