These LGBTQ+ Winners Made Their Mark At The 2025 Emmys
From historic firsts to heartfelt speeches, these moments stood out on Emmy night.
Featured image: Tramell Tillman accepts the Emmy award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for Severance. Photo by Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images.
The 76th annual Emmy Awards lit up the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles with some big-name winners and a few history-making moments. Among the many fan favorites, several LGBTQ+ performers took the stage to collect their flowers.
Tramell Tillman Makes History
One of the night’s biggest breakthroughs came from Tramell Tillman, who won Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for his role in Severance. It was not only his first Emmy, but also his very first nomination. Tillman faced a tough category that included Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, and James Marsden. In his speech, he thanked “family both biological and chosen,” recognizing the community that helped him get there.
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Hannah Einbinder Brings Politics to the Stage
Hannah Einbinder, who stars in Hacks, took home Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. “I thought it was cooler to just keep losing,” she joked, before closing with, “Go birds, f*ck ICE, and free Palestine.” While the F-bomb was bleeped on live television, the message was impossible to miss.
Alan Cumming Marks a Shift in Reality TV
For years, RuPaul dominated the reality competition category. This year, Alan Cumming took the crown for The Traitors. Accepting his award, Cumming called attention to the challenges of the moment and the importance of joy. His lapel featured Tatty Devine’s “Not a Phase” pin, designed in the colors of the trans pride flag, with proceeds supporting trans organizations. He also gave a warm shoutout to his husband, Grant Shaffer, whom he described as the source of his daily happiness.
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Jeff Hiller’s Humor Hits Home
Jeff Hiller of Somebody Somewhere brought levity with his acceptance speech for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy. “Thank you to HBO for putting a show about sweaty, middle-aged people on the same network as the sexy teens of Euphoria,” he quipped.
Erin Doherty’s Love Takes the Spotlight
Stephen Graham’s Netflix series Adolescence had a strong showing, and one of its most heartwarming moments came when Erin Doherty won for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series. Before walking up to accept, she kissed her partner, Sinéad, later telling the audience, “Thank you for making me the happiest person in the world. I love you with everything I’ve got.”
Even without a long list of queer victories, the 2025 Emmys gave us plenty to talk about.
