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Pittsburgh Native Billy Porter Becomes First Openly Gay African-American Man To Win Emmy For Lead Actor In A Drama

September 22, 2019 / 10:50 PM EDT / CBS Pittsburgh

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LOS ANGELES (KDKA) -- Billy Porter, a Pittsburgh native and graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, won the Emmy for Lead Actor In A Drama Series.

With his #Emmys win, #PoseFX star Billy Porter (@theebillyporter) is the first openly gay black man to win best lead actor in a drama series https://t.co/wvzov4ao8S pic.twitter.com/wPmwjiPiWL

— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) September 23, 2019

Porter plays Pray Tell in the FX series Pose.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 22: Billy Porter accepts the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series award for 'Pose' onstage during the 71st Emmy Awards at Microsoft Theater on September 22, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

His victory marks the first time an openly gay African American man has won an Emmy.

Porter has won several awards in his career including a Tony Award in 2013 for Best Actor in A Musical for his role in Kinky Boots.