When Ryan Murphy accepted the Carol Burnett Award at the Golden Globes this week, he didn’t thank his mother or God. He thanked award-winning gay actor Billy Porter, who presented Murphy with his award while wearing a transcendent tuxedo gown, and trans actress MJ Rodriguez, who broke barriers at last year’s (untelevised) Golden Globes as the first trans actress to win a Golden Globe. Citing a litany of their accomplishments, Murphy acknowledged Niecy Nash-Betts, Matt Bomer, and Jeremy Pope. He called them a beacon “of hope and progress.”
Murphy’s emotional speech on the evolution of queer representation in entertainment beginning with his urging the room of celebrities to stand and deliver to Rodriguez the televised standing ovation she hadn’t gotten last year – was a powerful reminder that queer people are so often talked about when they’re not in the room, that for so long we’ve put in the work and not gotten the recognition. It was also an incredibly inspiring moment, the queering of a major Hollywood event – rainbow punctuation on a growing bevy of artistic work, from films such as “Tár” to shows such as “Sort Of,” showcasing the creative power of LGBTQ+ storytelling and expression.
