Mon Sep 16 14:56:56 UTC 2024: ## Emmys 2024: Historic Night of Diversity & Inclusion

The 76th Emmy Awards celebrated a night of historic diversity and inclusion, with numerous first-time wins and nominations for actors of color and LGBTQ+ representation.

Actor John Leguizamo, a recipient of the coveted award himself, took the stage to acknowledge the momentous occasion. He highlighted the diverse nominees, stating, “I’m one of Hollywood’s DEI hires,” referencing the term for “diversity, equity, and inclusion.” Leguizamo, who grew up in Queens, spoke candidly about the lack of representation he experienced as a child. “At 15, I didn’t know the word representation…but I saw a lot of brown face…Everybody played us, except us,” he shared. He praised the “most diverse list of nominees” this year, particularly highlighting the achievements of his “incredibly talented Latinx brothers and sisters.”

The evening was marked by several groundbreaking wins:

* **Liza Colón-Zayas** became the first Latina to win Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy for her role in “The Bear.”
* **Anna Sawai** made history as the first actor of Asian descent to win Best Actress in a Drama for her performance in “Shogun.”
* **Nava Mau** became the first Latina trans nominee for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Baby Reindeer,” a moment she shared emotionally with Laverne Cox, the first openly transgender person nominated for an Emmy ten years ago. “Ten years ago I became the first openly transgender person to be nominated for an acting Emmy, and 10 years later I’m not the last,” Cox said.

Leguizamo emphasized the need for continued progress: “We need more stories from excluded groups: Black, Jewish, Arab, LGBTQ+ and disabled. And this show tonight is proof that our industry is making progress.”

The evening also saw the first-ever Emmy nomination for **D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai** for Best Actor in a Comedy for his role in “Reservation Dogs.” He made a powerful statement on the red carpet with a red handprint painted over his mouth to represent missing and murdered Indigenous women.

This year’s Emmys marked a significant step towards a more inclusive and representative entertainment industry, highlighting the importance of diverse voices and stories in the world of television.

Read More