Representation matters, and the Emmys, if compared to other award shows (especially the Oscars), have been pretty proactive about identifying LGBT representation. And this year, there is a quite respectable group of seven LGBT actors nominated for playing LGBT characters.
Matt Bomer
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie Nominee as Felix Turner HBO's The Normal Heart.
Jim Parsons
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie Nominee as Tommy Boatwright in HBO's The Normal Heart.
Laverne Cox
Outstanding Guest Actress In A Comedy Series Nominee as Sophia Burset in Netflix's Orange Is the New Black.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Comedy Series Nominee as Mitchell Pritchett in ABC's Modern Family.
Nathan Lane
Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series Nominee as Pepper Saltzman in ABC's Modern Family.
Joe Mantello
Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries Or A Movie Nominee as Mickey Marcus in HBO's The Normal Heart.
Kate McKinnon
Outstanding Supporting Actress In A Comedy Series Nominee as Various characters (including LGBT characters like "Dyke" and Ellen DeGeneres) in NBC's Saturday Night Live.
These are the LGBT nominees for LGBT characters from previous years: John Glover, Ian McKellen, Ellen DeGeneres, Angelina Jolie, Sean Hayes, Victor Garber, Leslie Jordan, Chris Colfer, Sarah Paulson, Dan Bucatinsky.
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