Emmy Winners Make Use of Spotlight, Urge Social & Political Activism

The 71st Emmy Awards held on Sunday night witnessed a wave of activism amongst the celebrities who came to the stage to collect their awards. From gender equality to the rights of transgender people, the winners brought attention to all matters pertaining to today’s society and urged for social and political activism from viewers.

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Among the celebrities who utilized their few minutes in limelight to discuss important issues, Patricia Arquette stood out as she spoke of her late transgender sister to bring public’s attention to the rights of the said community.

Trans people are still being persecuted. I’m in mourning every day of my life, Alexis, and I will be for the rest of my life for you until we change the world so trans people are not persecuted — and give them jobs. They’re human beings, let’s get rid of this bias we have everywhere,” she said as she spoke of her actress sister who passed away in 2016.

Other celebrities who discussed gender equality included Michelle Williams and Alex Borstein.

“My grandmother was in line to be shot into a pit,” said Alex of her mother, a holocaust survivor.

“She said, ‘What happens if I step out of line?’ [The guard] said, ‘I don’t have the heart to shoot you, but somebody will,’ and she stepped out of line,” she continued as she spoke after receiving the award for her role in Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

“For that, I am here and my children are here. So step out of line, ladies. Step out of line!” she concluded.

Michelle while receiving the award for her role in Fosse/Verdon talked of the pay gap in Hollywood and otherwise.

“The next time a woman, and especially a woman of color, because she stands to make 52 cents on the dollar compared to her white male counterparts, tells you what she needs in order to do her job, listen to her, believe her, because one day she might stand in front of you and say thank you for allowing her to succeed because of her workplace environment — and not in spite of it,” she said as she thanked Fox 21.