The 2025 Emmy Award nominations brought a mix of excitement and contention within the entertainment industry, especially resonating with the LGBTQ+ community thanks to a strong presence of queer talent both in front of and behind the camera. Among the most notable highlights was RuPaul, who shattered a long-standing Emmy record by securing his tenth nomination for Outstanding Host for a Reality or Competition Program for the landmark show RuPaul’s Drag Race. This achievement broke the previous record held by Heidi Klum and Tom Bergeron, who each amassed nine nominations in the category. RuPaul’s continued success not only cements his status as one of the most iconic figures in reality TV but also marks him as the most decorated Black artist in Emmy history, boasting 14 trophies to date.
The 2025 Emmy nominations also showcased a wealth of LGBTQ+ talent across various categories, underscoring the community’s expanding influence in television arts. Actors such as Alan Cumming were recognised for hosting with his nomination for The Traitors, while Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey gained critical acclaim for their roles in Fellow Travelers. Other queer actors acknowledged included Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, and Nava Mau from Baby Reindeer, alongside Tom Hollander and Andrew Scott, whose work in Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and Ripley was praised. Esteemed names like Jodie Foster and Kali Ries also received nods for their contributions to True Detective: Night Country, further highlighting the breadth of LGBTQ+ representation.
Two projects captured particular attention for their ensemble LGBTQ+ cast nominations: The Last of Us, featuring Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal, and The White Lotus, which saw four of its actresses nominated in the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series category. Meanwhile, Cooper Koch’s nomination for Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story sparked heartfelt congratulations from Lyle Menendez himself, who reportedly called Koch from prison to offer his kind words. Despite the nomination, Koch expressed being “devastated” over the exclusion of two of his co-stars from recognition, revealing the emotional stakes involved with awards season.
The comedy arena also highlighted several queer talents such as Colman Domingo, Bowen Yang, Michael Urie, and Jeff Hiller, all nominated in the Supporting Actor category, reflecting the diversity and richness of queer comedy performances. Amid the buzz, some Emmy snubs stirred disappointment and debate, illustrating the ongoing challenges queer stories and artists face in gaining full accolades and recognition within mainstream award systems.
Meanwhile, the industry keeps eyeing a potential renaissance for actor Lee Pace, who is currently experiencing a busy and promising phase in his career, hinting at an exciting trajectory ahead. On a different note, Barbra Streisand drew social media attention by sharing a rare personal moment: a photo from the wedding of her stepson, actor Josh Brolin, to Kathryn, a reminder of the intersection between personal life and celebrity interest.
Source: Noah Wire Services
