Photo: Getty Images
LOS ANGELES (CNS) - "Pose" co-star Mj Rodriguez made Emmy history today by becoming the first transgender performer to be nominated for a leading- performance Emmy Award in a primetime series.
Rodriguez is the third transgender performer overall to receive an Emmy nomination. Laverne Cox received multiple nominations for best supporting actress for "Orange is the New Black." Rain Valdez was nominated last year for lead actress in a short-form series for "Razor Tongue."
Sarah Kate Ellis, president/CEO of the LGBT advocacy organization GLAAD, called the nomination a "breakthrough for transgender women in Hollywood" while also hailing the success of "Pose" at the nominations announcement.
"Additionally, the show's nomination for outstanding drama series, as well as Billy Porter's third nomination for outstanding lead actor in a drama series, mark a historic show that undoubtedly raised the bar for trans representation on television and changed the way viewers around the world understand the trans community," Ellis said. "As over 40 leading LGBTQ organizations pointed out in our open letter about `Pose' to Emmy Award voters, representation matters. Congratulations, Michaela Jae, Billy Porter and the entire `Pose' team. The world is standing with you and applauding your talents."