Billy Porter became the first openly gay man to win an Emmy Award for best actor in a drama series for his role in “Pose.” Porter won the Emmy on Sunday night as a first-time nominee for playing the character Pray Tell on the FX drama series.
The fashionable singer-actor wore a glittered suit and a towering asymmetrical hat on the stage as he accepted the award.
In his acceptance speech, he said “The category is love, y’all, love!” He also said, “I’m so overjoyed to have lived long enough to see this day.”
“There were so many people who helped me to get here along the way … thank you,” the 50-year-old said in front of the cheering audience.
He beat out nominees that included Bob Odenkirk, Jason Bateman and Kit Harington.
Just before the Emmys broadcast went live at 8 p.m. ET, Porter posted to Instagram: “… taking a moment to reflect on dreaming the impossible and making it a reality. Growing up, there was never representation of someone who looked like me… So to live in my truth, be loved for being who I am and standing proud as the first openly gay, black man to walk the Emmy Awards red carpet as a Lead Actor Drama nominee …”
The big winner of the night was “Game of Thrones,” which took home an Emmy for best drama series. The HBO mega hit ended its run on the cable channel after eight seasons.
The Emmy Award for best supporting actor in a drama went to Peter Dinklage — for the four time — for his role as Tyrion Lannister in “Game of Thrones.”
Peter Martinez contributed to this report.
