15 major LGBTQIA+ moments in pop culture in 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 17: (L-R) Bobby Berk, Karamo Brown, Tan France, Antoni Porowski, and Jonathan Van Ness speak onstage during the 70th Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 17, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

And even more LGBTQIA+ wins for TV!

But wait, there’s more! Ru wasn’t the only queer person coming home with some trophies for outstanding achievement in television. In fact, there were a lot of LGBTQIA+ nominees at this year’s Emmy Awards, prompting applause from queer activists, including GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis.

“Today’s list of Emmy nominees is a milestone moment for LGBTQIA+ inclusion on television,” she said back in July. “With a surge of out actors and creators nominated alongside LGBTQIA+-inclusive scripted programming and LGBTQIA+-focused shows like Queer Eye and RuPaul’s Drag Race, the Television Academy is finally reflecting how audiences and critics embrace diverse LGBTQIA+ images on television.”

While being nominated is an honor in itself and all that, it was a huge achievement that a lot of those out actors and LGBTQIA+-inclusive shows actually won. Queer Eye took home three awards, including Outstanding Structured Reality Program. The Assassination of Gianni Versace took home three major awards, including Outstanding Limited Series or Movie, which creator Ryan Murphy dedicated to LGBTQIA+ people. Actress Merritt Wever won Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie as the queer Mary Agnes in Godless, and Samira Wiley won Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for playing the lesbian character Moira on The Handmaid’s Tale.

The presenters that night were also diverse, including Samira Wiley (already a winner), Hannah Gadsby, the Fab Five, Abbi Jacobson, Sarah Paulson, and Kate McKinnon. The best part is, not only were they diverse in their sexual orientation, but they also represent different genders and races. This was a huge step for Hollywood, finally recognizing the talented queer and POC people that make their industry go round.