When Transparent won the Golden Globe for best television series, comedy, showrunner Jill Soloway dedicated the award to two trans people.
“This award is dedicated to the memory of Leelah Alcorn and too many trans people who die too young,” she said. “And it’s dedicated to you, my trans parent, my moppa. You’re watching at home right now. I just want to thank you for coming out because in doing so you made a break for freedom, you told your truth, you taught me how to tell my truth and make this show. And maybe we’re going to be able to teach the world something about authenticity and truth and love. To love.”
Leelah Alcorn was a transgender young woman who recently made headlines after committing suicide; she left a note in which she described how her parents would not accept her as transgender, and tried to make her go through conversion therapy. Trans advocates have responded on social media and through petitions to spread awareness about trans issues and to lobby for the termination of such therapy programs.
The second person Soloway referred to was her “moppa,” her parent who came out as transgender when Soloway was an adult. (“Moppa” is a combinaton of the words “mama” and “poppa.”) Soloway has said in interviews that she wrote Transparent as a response to her own experience with her moppa’s transition.
MORE: Transgender Teen’s Death Sparks Outcry From Advocates
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