Sunday, September 17, 2017

Lena Waithe, lesbian of color, makes Emmy Award history with well-deserved victory

If only all of my weeks could start off this way:



Lena Waithe and Aziz Ansari’s Emmy win made history on Sunday night. The two earned the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series at the 69th annual awards for the “Thanksgiving” episode from Season 2 of Netflix’s “Master of None.” Waithe, the first black woman to be nominated in the category, is now the first black woman to win in the category. . . . In her acceptance speech, Waithe thanked her “LGBTQIA family,” telling them, “I see each and every one of you.” “The things that make us different, those are our superpowers,” she continued. “Every day when you walk out the door, put on your imaginary cape, and go out there and conquer the world. Because the world would not be as beautiful as it is if we weren’t in it.”

The award-winning episode, 'Thanksgiving' had to do with Waite's character coming out as a lesbian to her mother (portrayed by the legendary Angela Bassett, who herself was nominated for an Emmy for 'Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series' for the episode,)

 

Both Waithe's story and victory prove one thing. In the LGBTQ community, we ALL have stories to tell and very few of them are the same. Instead of talking up diversity, we need to support each other and provide those of us who need it opportunities to get those stories out there. There is no one homogenized LGBTQ community. We are different mixtures and flavors which blend together to form a richness which no degree of hate or ignorance can extinguish. Don't be afraid of celebrating and respecting the mixtures.