Mj Rodriguez has made history.

If you’re unfamiliar with the name, Mj stars in the FX television drama Pose.

Here’s the trailer for Season 3 — Pose’s final installment:

As described by Variety, Rodriguez is known for “her fierce and formidable portrayal of house mother and nurse Blanca Rodriguez on FX’s ballroom culture period drama…”

But the actor’s soon to be renowned for something new: Mj Rodriguez is the first transgender performer to be nominated for an Emmy in a major (non-guest) capacity.

The category: best Lead Actress in a Drama Series.

The other contenders:

• Uzo Aduba, Treatment
• Olivia Colman, The Crown
• Emma Corrin, The Crown
• Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale
• Jurnee Smollett, Lovecraft Country

Speaking to Variety, Mj waxed on a profound pivot:

“I do believe this is a pivotal moment. There’s never been a trans woman who has been nominated as a leading outstanding actress, and I feel like that pushes the needle forward so much for now the door to be knocked down for so many people — whether they be male or trans female, gender nonconforming, LGBTQIA+, it does not matter.”

These days, gender identity is king. And those identifying as the opposite of their sex are making waves across the board.

Particularly, it appears male-to-females are racking up recognition.

Last month, a biological male won Miss Nevada.

And in 2019, Victoria’s Secret took a noted turn:

Meet Valentina Sampaio, Victoria's Secret's first openly transgender model https://t.co/aiOKeTrLmf via @pagesix

— Gigi jones (@gigijones12131) July 10, 2020

Last year, Valentina made it to Sports Illustrated:

Valentina Sampaio becomes Sports Illustrated's first trans model https://t.co/ou5Z1tZmZY

— CNN (@CNN) July 11, 2020

Speaking of sports, trans is trending.

Laurel Hubbard will soon compete in the Olympics:

Of course, some states are standing in the way (see “Alabama Legislature Passes Bill Banning Biological Males From Women’s Sports“).

But the ACLU’s here to help:

ACLU Attorney Nails the 'White Supremacy' of Cisgender Sports, Says an Infant's Sex is Not 'Easily Identifiable'https://t.co/KHfhcbINAZ

— Alex Parker (@alexparker1984) July 14, 2021

Back to Pose, the show’s performers have made headlines before.

During a 2018 MTV interview with Mj and costar Indya Moore, the latter explained, “Gender is a social construct, but so is race.”

Continuing:

“And that still doesn’t make it okay for white women to play Asian women. It still doesn’t make it okay for [cisgender] people to play trans people.”

How about trans people playing cis? Mj laid it out:

“If this is a way to challenge yourself as an actor, then you should let us…play some cis roles. … Because we understand the experience of a woman.”

Indya also got attention for a tweet the following February:

“If a woman has a penis, her penis is a biologically female penis.”

It’s a new era.

As for Mj’s prediction of awarded actors who are “gender nonconforming,” in what category will those lacking an identity fit? Best actor? Actress? Lacktress?

It’s hard to say, but something tells me we’re all going to find out.

As we wait, here’s Mj before the transgender triumph — in an interview posted to YouTube in 2010, about the meaning of hit musical Rent:

One user commented, “[The] fact her face hasn’t aged a minute in 10 years is incredible.”

Another remark:

“She still looks like the beautiful woman she was meant to be. You couldn’t mistake those amazingly soulful eyes anywhere. Haters will always be jealous of those living their own truth!!”

Stay tuned for more cultural transformation.

-ALEX

See more pieces from me:

Rob Schneider Calls the COVID Vaccine ‘Unapproved,’ Hails the 2nd Amendment in Defiance

‘The Practising Midwife’ Magazine Releases Transgender Issue Featuring Bearded Birthing Parent

Pest Control for the Problematic: World’s Largest Insect Organization Cancels a Name That Bugs Them

Find all my RedState work here.

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