RuPaul dedicates record-breaking Emmys win to LGBT+ kids in touching speech
Michelle Visage, RuPaul, Gottmik, and Symone at the Emmys (Jay L Clendenin / Los Angeles Times/Getty)
RuPaul made history by becoming the most-awarded Black artist in Emmys history.
On Sunday (19 September) Drag Race took home the Emmy for Reality Competition Series, the fourth consecutive year it has won that award. It was the show’s 24th Emmy and RuPaul’s 11th, making him the person of colour with the most Emmy awards in history.
Joined on stage by Season 13 winner Symone, Top 4 runner-up Gottmik and judge Michelle Visage, RuPaul dedicated his win to the LGBT+ community and queer youth.
“Really thanks to all of our lovely children on our show from all around the world. They’re so gracious to tell their stories of courage how to navigate this difficult life that’s more difficult today,” he said.
“For you kids watching, you have a tribe that is waiting for you. We are waiting for you, baby. Come on to Mama Ru.”
Unfortunately there were few other big wins for LGBT+ stars at Sunday’s ceremony outside of Drag Race.
Indeed, the 2021 Emmys was widely condemned for its lack of diversity after all major acting awards went to white actors.
Despite boasting one of the most diverse set of nominations in history, with 38 people of colour in the acting categories, every major acting award went to a white actor.
The event prompted accusations of “performative representation” after including a significant number of Black hosts and musical performers in the lineup, yet few winners.
Among them were Billy Porter and Mj Rodriguez, who dazzled on stage when they presented the category for Supporting Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Movie.
Both actors were heavily tipped to win accolades for their roles in FX drama Pose, but sadly neither took home an award. The award they presented went to straight actor Ewan McGregor for playing a gay fashion designer in the Netflix show Halston.
Other queer actors who were sadly overlooked include Bowen Yang, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Samira Wiley and Emma Corrin, who lost out to Olivia Colman for her performance in The Crown (though the Netflix show did win Best Drama).
But that doesn’t mean there weren’t any queer highlights.
The Pose production crew won Outstanding Contemporary Makeup, Hairstyling and Costumes at the the Creative Arts Emmy Awards on Saturday, while Netflix’s Queer Eye won Outstanding Structured Reality Program.
I May Destroy You creator Michaela Coel won her first-ever Emmy for Outstanding Writing for A Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
And in one of the best red carpet moments of the night, Hacks actor Clemons-Hopkins stepped out in a stunning gender non-conforming outfit inspired by the non-binary flag.
The incredible moment marked the star’s place in history as the first openly non-binary performer ever to be nominated for an Emmy.
