Yesterday at Hollywood’s Independent Spirit Awards — basically, the Oscars for low-budget indie films — history was made. Mya Taylor, the trans woman who starred in Tangerine, a film about trans sex workers shot entirely on iPhones, was presented with the best supporting female award. She is the first non-cis-gendered woman to receive such an accolade.
In her moving speech, Taylor said, “I came from almost nothing, and then got this role in this movie, and my life has just done a total 360.”
At the end of her address, she gently chastised the moviemaking talent in attendance, saying: “What I want to leave with you guys today is: There is transgender talent. There is very beautiful transgender talent, so you better get out there and put it in your next movie.”
Watch her historic moment below:
Credits
Text Laura Vogel
Image via Magnolia Pictures
Video via YouTube