‘Thank you for your courage’: ‘Transparent’ actor Jeffrey Tambor dedicates award to the transgender community

Actor Jeffrey Tambor won the Best Lead Actor in a Comedy award at the 2015 Emmys in Los Angeles on Sunday.

As part of his speech, he paid tribute to transgender Americans.

"I had a teacher who you used to say, 'When you act, you have to act as if your life depends on it,'" Tambor said. "And now I've been given the opportunity to act because people's lives depend on it."

In Transparent, Tambor plays Maura Pfefferman, a trans woman who is struggling to come to terms with her new identity while her family tries to reconcile themselves to the fact that their former father is now one of their mothers.

"I'd like to dedicate my performance and this award to the transgender community," the actor said. "Thank you for your patience. Thank you for your courage. Thank you for your stories. Thank you for your inspiration. Thank you for letting us be part of the change. God bless you."

Watch the video, embedded below: