Greg Berlanti paid glowing personal and professional tribute to his husband, former MLS and U.S. national team professional soccer player Robbie Rogers, as he accepted the Governor’s Award as producer, director and writer at Sunday night’s Emmy Awards ceremony.
At the Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles, Berlanti was recognized for his contributions to significantly improving on-screen representation of LGBTQ people during a film and television career that began in the late 1990s.
From “Dawson’s Creek” to “All American” “Broken Hearts Club” and Love, Simon, scripts and scenes about being gay in sports are scattered throughout many of Berlanti’s films.
But the greatest connection he’s ever made is with Rodgers, whom he married in 2017, and his coming out story more than a decade ago continues to resonate with other gay athletes of all ages today.
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Welcoming Berlanti onstage Sunday were actors Matt Bomer and Joshua Jackson. Bomer starred in last year’s much-praised, three-time Emmy-nominated “Fellow Travelers,” on which Rogers served as executive producer, while Jackson rose to fame on “Dawson’s Creek,” on which Berlanti started as one of the teen drama’s writers before working his way up to executive producer.
In his introduction, Jackson mentioned A groundbreaking gay kiss Football player Jack McPhee and his idol Ethanaired almost a quarter century ago.
“Dawson’s Creek made television history because Gregg was the first writer and producer to feature a teenager kissing scene in primetime. I remember feeling so proud back in 2000,” Jackson said.
Later that year, Berlanti wrote and directed the classic The Broken Hearts Club, about a gay softball team of friends in West Hollywood.
Currently 52 years old, Berlanti said in his speech. Regarding the impact of growing up without positive portrayals of gay people on television, he quipped, “The only way to know if another kid was gay back then was if he also watched ‘Dynasty’ and ‘Dallas’ and could name all four of the Golden Girls.”
He thanked his colleagues, friends and family, concluding with, “My soulmate and husband, Robbie Rogers… He’s not only here for me, but because he produced Fellow Travelers, which everyone should see. It’s amazing!”
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A proud Rogers was seen on television broadcast, and the couple’s upcoming projects recently announced include: An adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s classic “The Picture of Dorian Gray” For Netflix.
Berlanti spoke of his late mother, Barbara, and how her belief in the power of humanity to change the world continues to influence his work and his approach to life.
“That’s how powerful belief is, and her belief lives on through me and through every child today who feels alone, who feels excluded or who is afraid to share their truth with the world.”
“If my mother were here, she would want you to know that you are loved, you are worthy, and you have a story to tell. And we need those stories now more than ever.
“She believes in you, and I believe in you, so get here quickly.”
His closing comments are sure to resonate with some in elite men’s sports, where storytelling by gay and bisexual men has seemed to have slowed recently.
As of September 2021, there were openly gay professional players in the top five sports in the United States. Three years later, two of them, hockey player Luke Prokop and soccer player Collin Martin, are still playing. But there are currently no openly gay players in the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, or MLS. (Prokop is under contract with NHL team the Nashville Predators but currently plays at a lower level.)
A generation of TV viewers saw themselves in Jack McPhee, the Capeside Minutemen wide receiver and All-American “boy next door” from “Dawson’s Creek” who came out of the closet, but visible representation in men’s sports remains lagging behind.
As Jackson took the stage to present the award to Berlanti, the show’s famous theme song, written by Paula Cole, began playing. Jackson was surprised and amused..
“I can’t wait to wait” is a sentiment that will continue to be felt by people like Jack McPhee.
If Berlanti’s wise and powerful words inspire even one gay athlete to understand what lies on the other side of coming out — the love, pride, success and happiness — then that in itself will be worthy of an award.
Source: Outsports – www.outsports.com
