Why Patricia Arquette Dedicated Her Emmy Win to Her Sister, Alexis Arquette

The 2019 Emmy Awards got emotional early in the evening thanks to Patricia Arquette. After winning Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role in Hulu’s The Act, Arquette dedicated her award to her late sister Alexis Arquette. The esteemed actress then used her speech to speak out against transphobia.

“I’m so sad I lost my sister Alexis and that trans people are still being persecuted,” a tearful Arquette said during her speech. “Let’s get rid of this bias that we have everywhere.”

One of Arquette’s four siblings and the daughter of Lewis Arquette and Brenda Olivia Nowak, Alexis Arquette started publicly discussing her transition in 2004. She was always open about her gender identity, especially during a time when that wasn’t the norm, and she was an open supporter of trans men and women, including Chaz Bono. Her transition was documented in Alexis Arquette: She’s My Brother, a documentary that premiered in 2007 at Tribeca. Over her career the actress, cabaret performer, cartoonist, and activist had featured roles in Friends, Pulp Fiction, The Wedding Singer, and VH1 series The Surreal Life.

Throughout much of her life Alexis Arquette suffered from medical problems connected to her positive HIV status. She was placed into a medically induced coma and died in September of 2016. The official cause of her death was cardiac arrest caused by her diagnosis.

Patricia Arquette’s speech was met by universal applause including actress Laverne Cox holding up an LGBTQ+ flag in support. The speech also marked one of Arquette’s two possible wins for the night. The beloved prestige actress was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actress for her role as Dee Dee Blanchard in Hulu’s The Act. She was also nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie for her role as Tilly in Showtime’s Escape at Dannemora, which she ultimately lost to Michelle Williams.

Watch The Act on Hulu