Vote Now In Autostraddle’s 4th Annual Gay Emmys – Autostraddle

September 13, 2021 News Editor

The Primetime Emmy Awards are headed our way this very Sunday on September 19th, which — in the beforetimes — was usually an exciting time of year for Hollywood “insiders,” television critics, and fans everywhere of popcorn popping and yelling at celebrities while sitting on your couch in your pajamas.

Of course, the last 18 months have been anything but normal — not for any of us, and as it relates to this specific contest, not for the television industry. There’s been prematurely truncated seasons, retroactive cancellations and strange pivots and long production delays. While network and cable tv kept trying to adjust to the sky falling, streaming networks responded by erratically churned out new content seemingly without rhyme or reason. And arguably none of us have ever spent more time at home in front of a television! There’s been weekend mini-binges of new shows we’ve never never heard and multi-season comfort re-watches, and finally, in the last six months, long anticipated returns of our favorites.

And while the Emmys may not be delivered from home this year (Do you remember last year when they literally chucked Emmys at the winners from behind hazmat suits? #NeverForget), it’s certainly not “back to normal.” Though some things do remain the same! We began the Gay Emmys to celebrate the sheer breadth and quality of queer television that’s available to us now, in larger quantities than ever before. We know the talent is out there, even if the Television Academy still overwhelming follows the whims of mostly straight white cis men. And so our annual queer tradition — now in its fourth year! A marvel! — was born.

How it Works: Over the last few weeks our TV Team of queer critics nominated and voted on shows and actors and characters and creatives in the 21 categories you see below. These official nominees are the top six vote-getters in every category. Now you get to weigh in! Every Autostraddle reader is eligible to vote once in each category. Your votes will be combined with the TV Team’s votes to choose the winner! We’ve also chosen three fan-favorite categories over which you have total control. Your winners are the winners!

To choose our nominees, we abided by official Emmys rules for timing.That means shows must have occurred between June 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021. The majority of the show’s episodes must have aired within that time period.

Here is your official ballot!

Voting ends on Wednesday September 15, 2021 at 5:30 EST and winners will be announced on Thursday September 16!

And the Nominees Are…

Outstanding Lead Actor Playing an LGBTQ+ Character in a Drama Series

Mj Rodriguez as Blanca Evangelista, Pose
Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn, Euphoria
Danielle Savre as Maya Bishop, Station 19
Zendaya as Rue Bennett, Euphoria
Sarah Paulson as Nurse Ratched, Ratched
Nicco Annan as Uncle Clifford, P-Valley

Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actor Playing an LGBTQ+ Character in a Drama Series

Daniela Santiago as Veneno, Veneno
Cynthia Nixon as Gwendolyn Briggs, Ratched
Angourie Rice as Siobhan Sheehan, Mare of Easttown
Stefania Spampinato as Carina DeLuca, Station 19
Samira Wiley as Moira Strand, The Handmaid’s Tale
Dominique Jackson as Elektra Abundance Evangelista Wintour, Pose

Outstanding Lead Actor Playing an LGBTQ+ Character in a Comedy Series

Haley Sanchez as Greta Moreno, Genera+ion
Hailee Steinfeld as Emily Dickinson, Dickinson
Chase Sui Wonders as Riley Luo, Genera+ion
Paula Pell as Gloria, Girls 5Eva
Naomi Ackie as Alicia, Master of None Presents: Moments in Love
Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels, Hacks

Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actor Playing an LGBTQ+ Character in a Comedy Series

Lolly Adefope as Fran, Shrill
Ella Hunt as Susan Gilbert, Dickinson
Cole Escola as Chip Wreck, Search Party
Sasheer Zamata as Denise, Home Economics
Patti Harrison as Ruthie, Shrill
Nava Mau as Ana, Genera+ion

Outstanding Lead Actor Playing an LGBTQ+ Character in a Sci-Fi Series

Javicia Leslie as Ryan Wilder, Batwoman
Dominique Provost-Chalkley as Waverly Earp, Wynonna Earp
Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers, Supergirl
Victoria Pedretti as Dani Clayton, The Haunting of Bly Manor
Nafessa Williams as Anissa Pierce, Black Lightning
Kat Barrell as Nicole Haught, Wynonna Earp

Outstanding Supporting or Guest Actor Playing an LGBTQ+ Character in a Sci-Fi Series

Chantal Thuy as Grace Choi, Black Lightning
Blu del Barrio as Adira Tal, Star Trek: Discovery
Azie Tesfai as Kelly Olsen, Supergirl
Nicole Maines as Nia Nal, Supergirl
Meagan Tandy as Sophie Moore, Batwoman
Lachlan Watson as Theo Putnam, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Outstanding Performance by a Straight Actress in a Straight Role

Kathryn Hahn as Agatha Harkness, WandaVision
Hannah Waddingham as Rebecca Welton, Ted Lasso
Brandee Evans as Mercedes, P-Valley
Punam Patel as Kim, Shrill
Renee Elise Goldsberry as Wickie Roy, Girls5Eva
Michaela Coel as Arabella, I May Destroy You

Outstanding Cis Male Character

Brett Goldstein as Roy Kent, Ted Lasso
Billy Porter as Pray Tell, Pose
Angel Bismark Curiel as Esteban “Lil Papi” Evangelista, Pose
Toheeb Jimoh as Sam Obisanya, Ted Lasso
Justice Smith as Chester Morris, Genera+ion
Jason Sudeikis as Ted Lasso, Ted Lasso

Santana Lopez Legacy Award For Outstanding Queer Teen Character

Eris Baker as Tess Pearson, This Is Us
Chase Sui Wonders as Riley Luo, Genera+ion
Bre-z as Tamia “Coop” Cooper, All American
Zendaya as Rue Bennett, Euphoria
Hunter Schafer as Jules Vaughn, Euphoria
Haley Sanchez as Greta Moreno, Genera+ion

Best Episode with LGBTQ+ Themes

“Cease and Desist,” Girls5Eva
“CLICK WHIRR,” Genera+ion
“Fuck Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob,” Euphoria
“The Trunk,” Pose
“Chapter 4” (the pregnancy episode), Master of None Presents: Moments in Love
“Something Borrowed,” Harley Quinn

Outstanding Performance by an Out LGBTQ+ Actor in a Comedy

Hannah Einbinder as Ava Daniels, Hacks
Kate McKinnon, Saturday Night Live
Cole Escola as Chip Wreck, Search Party
Wanda Sykes as Lucretia Turner, The Upshaws
Paula Pell as Gloria, Girls 5Eva
Humberly González as Sophie Sanchez, Ginny & Georgia

Outstanding Performance by an LGBTQ+ Actor in a Drama

Gillian Anderson as Margaret Thatcher, The Crown
Emma Corrin as Princess Diana, The Crown
Dominique Jackson as Elektra Abundance Evangelista Wintour, Pose
Samira Wiley as Moira Strand, The Handmaid’s Tale
Mj Rodriguez as Blanca Evangelista, Pose
Lola Rodriguez as Valeria Vegas, Veneno

Outstanding LGBTQ+ Actor in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show

Chyler Leigh as Alex Danvers, Supergirl
Chantal Thuy as Grace Choi, Black Lightning
Blu del Barrio as Adira Tal, Star Trek: Discovery
T’Nia Miller as Hannah Grose, The Haunting of Bly Manor
Javicia Leslie as Ryan Wilder, Batwoman
Dominique Provost-Chalkley as Waverly Earp, Wynonna Earp

Outstanding LGBTQ+ Director / Writer / Showrunner

Hunter Schafer, writer, Euphoria (“Fuck Anyone Who’s Not a Sea Blob”)
Ashley Nicole Black and Lauren Ashley Smith, writers, A Black Lady Sketch Show
Emily Andras, showrunner, Wynonna Earp
Janet Mock, director, Pose (“Take Me to Church”)
Lena Waithe, writer, Master of None Presents: Moments in Love
Tina Mabry, director, Pose (“The Trunk”)

Most Groundbreaking Representation (Show)

P-Valley
Master of None Presents: Moments in Love
Genera+ion
Veneno
Special
Pose

Outstanding Animated Series

Harley Quinn
Blues Clues
Adventure Time: Distant Lands — Obsidian
The Owl House
One Day at a Time (“The Politics Episode”)
Magical Girl Friendship Squad

Outstanding Hairstyling for an LGBTQ+ Character

Veneno, Veneno
Angel Evangelista, Pose
Sophie Moore, Batwoman
Denise, Master of None Presents: Moments in Love
Nurse Ratched, Ratched
Alex Danvers, Supergirl

Outstanding Costume Design for a Show With LGBTQ+ Characters

Genera+ion
Dickinson
Batwoman
Ratched
Pose
Master of None Presents: Moments in Love

Plus there are THREE FAN FAVORITE CATEGORIES —Fan Favorite Couples, Fan Favorite Out Queer Actor, and Fan Favorite Character. You will find them on the ballot when you…