At Long Last: ‘Pose’ Star Mj Rodriguez Is the First Openly Trans Actor to Win a Golden Globe

Attention children! House of Evangelista has been properly awarded.

On Sunday, Michaela Jaé “Mj” Rodriguez won a Golden Globe for best actress for her role as Blanca, an HIV-positive House of Evangelista mother and nurse, on FX’s “Pose.” The win makes her the first transgender actor to receive a Golden Globe and the first Golden Globe for the show, which premiered in 2018.

Rodriguez took to Instagram to celebrate the news with some words of appreciation just a few days after her birthday.

“OMG OMGGG!!!! @goldenglobes Wow! You talking about sickening birthday present! Thank you! This is the door that is going to Open the door for many more young talented individuals. They will see that it is more than possible. They will see that a young Black Latina girl from Newark New Jersey who had a dream, to change the minds others would WITH LOVE. LOVE WINS. To my young LGBTQAI babies WE ARE HERE the door is now open now reach the stars!!!!! @goldenglobes

To the nominees we are Queens. I’m so happy to share space with you! Each and every last one of you women are phenomenal.”

 

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Billy Porter, who played Pray Tell, the emcee of the Ball scene and Blanca’s friend, joined in the celebration.

“Y’all!!! Look at my sister!!! Can you say groundbreaker!? #Blueprint

@mjrodriguez7 I am so very proud of you. Here’s to this everlasting honor and to MANY more accolades and awards headed your way. #BestActress @goldenglobes.”

 

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Dominique Jackson, who played Elektra, the original fierce house mother to Blanca, congratulated Rodriguez as well.

“Congratulations daughter! Well deserved! Hard work and dedication surely does pay off! Loooove you!”

Last summer, Rodriguez also made history after becoming the first transgender performer to be nominated for a leading role Emmy. Unfortunately, she didn’t win.

The loss was not surprising. Since the show has aired, the show’s stars have been vocal about its lack of award recognition.

In 2020, Indya Moore, who played Angel, a sex-worker turned model, spoke out against the Emmys for overlooking the show’s Black transgender cast. “Something abt trans ppl not being honored on a show abt trans ppl who created a culture to honor ourselves bc the world doesn’t,” Moore tweeted from their since-deleted account.

Hopefully, this win signifies more representation and recognition among award shows. Until then, this win deserves “10s across the board!”