‘Pose’ Stars and Co-Producer, Janet Mock, Honored At This Year’s ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood Luncheon

The hit FX series” Pose,” set around the 80’s and early 90’s ballroom scene, marked a monumental victory for black LGBTQ inclusion in film and television. Now, Essence is honoring the show’s co-producer and trans-activist Janet Mock, as well as the cast at this year’s 2020 Black Women In Hollywood Awards luncheon.

” Pose” is the first television series in history to feature such a large cast of transgender actors, who also happen to be mostly Black or Latinx. One of the series stars, Angelica Ross, spoke about the importance of” Pose” while on the Emmys red carpet.

“I’m waiting for our Black community to recognize our stories because our stories are not just about us. They are about you too,” Ross said. “They’re about our sisters, our mothers, our cousins and everyone else, and how they’re affected. Not only their missteps but how they learn to love us.”

Another of the series stars, Billy Porter, was present to see his team be honored during the luncheon, which was held on Thursday at the Beverly Wilshire hotel in Hollywood.

ESSENCE’s Black Women in Hollywood Awards is a yearly celebration honoring women of color who excel in entertainment and media. Other honorees of this year’s luncheon include actress Lashana Lynch, Grammy-winning music video director Melina Matsoukas and actress and comedian, Niecy Nash, who was this year’s Ford Vanguard Award Recipient.