Pose stars Angelica Ross and Indya Moore call out the Emmys for snubbing the show’s Black trans actors once again
Trans ‘Pose’ actors Indya Moore and Angelica Ross (Angela Weiss/Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage/Getty)
Indya Moore and Angelica Ross have slammed the Emmy awards for overlooking the Black trans cast and creators of Pose in its list of nominees once again.
Despite receiving widespread acclaim from viewers and critics alike, Pose‘s trans stars have been shut out of almost all major acting, directing, and writing categories – a bitter blow for a show about the marginalisation of the trans community.
There was just one nomination for cis gay actor Billy Porter in his role as Pray Tell, a year after he became the first out gay Black man to win in his category in Emmy history.
Yet the trans actors of Pose were sidelined, as they have been for the entirety of the show’s run – a snub that didn’t go unnoticed by Indya Moore, who took to Twitter to share their thoughts.
“Something about trans people not being honoured on a show about trans people who created a culture to honour ourselves because the world doesn’t,” they wrote.
Something abt trans ppl not being honored on a show abt trans ppl who created a culture to honor ourselves bc the world doesn’t.
— ? (@IndyaMoore) July 28, 2020
They also criticised the show’s “weak ass promotion”, claiming: “Most of us have never been on any talk shows except MJ, here and there. And they still ignored her work. ‘They’ don’t trust us on live TV. Especially me lol.”
Moore was retweeted by Angelica Ross, who plays Candy on the show. She continued the conversation in a video on Instagram Live.
Speaking through tears, she explained that she isn’t upset about missing out on an Emmy, but is just ”so tired” of seeing transgender stars overlooked by society.
”I want you to know from the jump that these tears are not about an award or a nomination,” she said.
”Ultimately, I need y’all to understand that I’m so tired – those of you who know me know I’m not just working on screen or behind screen but I’m working around the clock to get our society to value trans lives and Black trans lives.
”I feel what I feel because I feel there is nothing we can do.”
The news that Ross, Moore, and their trans co-stars MJ Rodriguez and Dominique Jackson all missed out on awards was met with outrage on social media. Pose co-creator Steven Canals fervently agreed that MJ Rodriguez should have been put forward for Best Actress.
Okay, real talk… what does @MjRodriguez7 have to do – aside from baring her heart & pouring her soul into every damn scene – to get a Best Actress nomination?! #PoseFX #Emmys pic.twitter.com/eJwSudMtkh
— Steven Canals (@StevenCanals) July 28, 2020
Laverne Cox, who was nominated for her role as Sophia in Orange is the New Black, also acknowledged the snub against Pose. “You should have been nominated with us,” she told Angelica Ross.
You should have been nominated with us. Love u @angelicaross https://t.co/zr1hYRx2ek
— Laverne Cox (@Lavernecox) July 28, 2020
The writer and trans activist Raquel Willis accused the Emmy’s of focusing on cis gay men in its LGBT+ representation.
“You’re telling me that a cis actor is the only one worth nominating or elevating on a show that centres the Black trans experience? Y’all playing in our faces yet again,” she said.
“The disparity of support for cis gay men and trans women can’t be ignored, especially at this moment.”
She continued: “It goes beyond award shows. It’s all over media, in our workplaces, in our communities, and more. We don’t talk about it enough because queer experiences are too often collapsed.
“Respecting and honouring the experiences of cis gay men is not the same as respecting and honouring the experiences of trans women (or trans people, in general) despite what too many cis people think.”
