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Ryan Murphy Cites Hate-Crimes Stats in Accepting Emmy

Ryan Murphy

One in four LGBTQ Americans will be a hate-crime victim, Murphy said in accepting an Emmy for The Assassination of Gianni Versace.

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In accepting an Emmy for The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, gay producer-director Ryan Murphy took the opportunity to raise awareness of hate crimes against LGBTQ people.

When the miniseries won the Emmy for Best Limited Series or TV Movie, Murphy took the stage and said, "The Assassination of Gianni Versace is about a lot of things, it's about homophobia, internalized and externalized. One of out of every four LGBTQ people in this country will be the victim of a hate crime. We dedicate this award to them, to awareness, to stricter hate-crime laws, and mostly, this is for the memory of Jeff and David and Gianni and for all of those taken too soon."

Besides Versace, the famed fashion designer, the men Murphy cited were Jeff Trail and David Madsen, both, like Versace, gay men murdered by serial killer Andrew Cunanan in 1997. Cunanan, who was also gay, killed himself a few days after Versace's death, as police were closing in on him.

Murphy also received an Emmy for directing a limited series, for the show's episode "The Man Who Would be Vogue." In accepting that award, he thanked the women in his life. Darren Criss, who played Cunanan, won the Emmy for Best Actor in a Limited Series. "I am profoundly indebted to my friend Ryan Murphy for entrusting me with this opportunity of a lifetime and for believing in me," said Criss, who previously appeared in another Murphy series, Glee, as well.

The actor went on to thank his mother, his father, and his fiancee, producer Mia Swier. "Unlike the character I played, I was lucky enough to be raised in a home that was very loving and emphasized the value of hard work, compassion, and not taking yourself too seriously," he said.

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Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.