Pose's Billy Porter Just Made Emmys History

Pose, FX's groundbreaking series about the New York City ballroom community, got nominated for six Emmys on Tuesday, including Outstanding Drama Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for Billy Porter.

Porter's nomination brings him closer to achieving mythical EGOT status: He has a Best Lead Actor for Kinky Boots and a Best Musical Theater Grammy for that same show. He's also the only openly gay black man nominated for the Best Lead Actor in Drama in Emmy history. Via an emailed statement, Porter said of his historic Emmy nomination, "The Category Is: Speechless! I'm so grateful to have lived long enough to see this day. POSE speaks a truth that has to power to transform hearts and minds. I'm honored and humbled to be counted in the number."

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Pose also snatched additional nominations for Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series, Outstanding Period Costumes, Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single Camera Series, and Outstanding Makeup for Single Camera Series (Non-prosthetic).

The second season glow isn't surprising when you consider Pose's immensely successful first season, which garnered critical praise, instant fan love and a number of awards nominations (including two Golden Globe nominations, Best Drama and Best Actor for Porter).

Pose's nominations put the series in the ring against some hard-to-beat contenders, including Game of Thrones, Killing Eve, and This Is Us. But its presence among the nominees is a landmark moment, not just because of the show's unique blend of drama, music, and hilarity, but also because of the POV of its stars and behind the scenes team. Pose puts LGBTQ people of color up front -- a demographic that's not exactly overrepresented in the body that votes on the Emmys -- and has hired the largest number of trans people on and off camera ever. The cast and crew have seen previously closed doors open: Billy Porter has become a mainstream darling; Pose producer Janet Mock has become a director; Indya Moore, an Afro-Latina trans woman, has been on the cover of magazines and modeled for Louis Vuitton, and Angelica Ross, who recently departed the series, has joinedAmerican Horror Story: 1984.

Pose's nominations signal forces of change afoot: they are proof that truly inclusive storytelling isn't a fad, and can appeal to mainstream audiences and be hugely successful too.

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Season 2 of Pose airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on FX.