Emmy Awards 2019: Billy Porter becomes first openly gay man to win best actor in a drama

Padma Lakshmi attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Mario Lopez attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Kelly Osbourne attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Characters from 'The Masked Singer' attend the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

(L-R) Ryan Michelle Bathe and Sterling K. Brown attend the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by )

Bob Odenkirk attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California.

(L-R) Alex Moffat, Mikey Day, Kyle Mooney, Kenan Thompson, and Beck Bennett attend the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

James Van Der Beek attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

(L-R) Jae W. Suh and Randall Park attend the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Brittany Snow attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

(L-R) Rebecca Elena Banks and Jonathan Banks attend the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Kristin Cavallari attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Our Lady J attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Kenan Thompson attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Billy Bush attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Tony Hale attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Jameela Jamil attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

(L-R) Chris Redd, Ego Nwodim, Heidi Gardner, and Melissa Villaseñor attend the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Ian McShane attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

(L-R) Charlie Brooker, Annabel Jones, and Russell McLean attend the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

Steven Canals attends the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on Sunday in Los Angeles, California.

LOS ANGELES — Billy Porter took home the Emmy for best lead actor in a drama Sunday night – and made history in the process.

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According to The Associated Press, the "Pose" star is the first openly gay man to claim the coveted award, which he earned for playing Pray Tell in the FX series.

"The category is love, y'all – love!" Porter said after he took the stage for his acceptance speech. "I am so overwhelmed and I am so overjoyed to have lived long enough to see this day."

>> Watch the speech here

Porter, who previously won a Tony and Grammy for his role in Broadway's "Kinky Boots," continued with a quote from writer James Baldwin.

"'It took many years of vomiting up all the filth that I had been taught about myself and halfway believed before I could walk around this Earth like I had the right to be here,'" Porter read before adding, "I have the right. You have the right. We all have the right."

Porter went on to thank his family, manager Bill Butler, "Pose" casting director Alexa Fogel, series co-creator Ryan Murphy and his co-stars.

"Oh, my goodness," Porter said. "We are the people. We as artists are the people that get to change the molecular structure of the hearts and minds of the people who live on this planet. Please don't ever stop doing that. Please don't stop ever telling the truth. I love you all."

He then quipped: "They're telling me to please stop. God bless you."

Other nominees in the category included actors Jason Bateman, "Ozark"; Kit Harington, "Game of Thrones"; Bob Odenkirk, "Better Call Saul"; Milo Ventimiglia, "This Is Us"; and Sterling K. Brown, also of "This Is Us."

Read more here.

– The Associated Press contributed to this report.