“Pose” star Billy Porter made history on Sunday as the first openly gay black man to win an Emmy for lead actor in a drama series.
“I am so overwhelmed and I am so overjoyed to have lived long enough to see this day,” Porter said through tears during his acceptance speech.
The actor came out on top in a category which also included Bob Odenkirk of “Better Call Saul,” Kit Harington of “Game of Thrones,” Jason Bateman of “Ozark,”and Sterling K. Brown and Milo Ventimiglia of “This Is Us.”
Quoting author James Baldwin in his speech, Porter said, “It took many years of vomiting up all the filth that I had been taught about myself and halfway believed before I could walk around this earth like I had the right to be here.”
“I have the right,” he said before turning to the audience. “You have the right. We all have the right.”
Porter has collected a number accolades for his work on the Ryan Murphy series, including Golden Globe and Critics Choice Award nominations earlier this year.
Sunday’s Emmy win brings him just one Oscar away from the full EGOT after winning the 2013 Tony for “Kinky Boots” and a Grammy the following year for the “Kinky Boots” cast album.