Actor Jeffrey Tambor made a plea for Hollywood to cast transgender actors in transgender roles as he accepted the Emmy for best actor in a comedy on Sunday.
“Please give transgender talent a chance. Give them auditions. Give them their story. “
Tambor won the award for his role as Maura Pfefferman, a transgender parent who is transitioning in the hit Amazon series Transparent. The show was the recipient of 3 awards at the 68th annual Emmys.
Jill Soloway won for outstanding Director in a comedy series and the show also won for outstanding production design, but it was Tambor’s speech that made all the headlines on Sunday.
I’m not going to say this beautifully. But to you people out there, you producers and you network owners, and you agents, and you creative sparks. Please give transgender talent a chance. Give them auditions. Give them their story. Do that. And also, one more thing, I would not be unhappy were I the last cisgender male to play a female transgender on television. We have work to do. I love you.
This was the second year in a row that Tambor won the award for best actor in a comedy. Transgender visibility has been higher in recent years with the rise of shows like Transparent, Orange is the New Black and the nomination of Jen Richards’ HerStory.
Creator and writer of Transparent, Jill Soloway, also discussed civil rights in her acceptance speech.
I’ve always wanted to be part of a movement, the civil rights movement, the feminist movement. This TV show allows me to take my dreams about unlikable Jewish people, queer folk, trans folk, and make them the heroes. Thank you to the trans community for your lived lives. We need to stop violence against transgender women and topple the patriarchy! Topple the patriarchy!
Watch the clip of Jeffery Tambor’s speech below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nreWrgxEoHo
Transparent Season 3 premieres on Friday, September 23, 2016, on Amazon Prime.
