3 hours ago
'Severance' Star Tramell Tillman Voices Strong Support for Transgender Community
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Tramell Tillman, the openly gay actor best recognized for portraying Seth Milchick in the Apple TV+ series "Severance," delivered a poignant message of support to the transgender community at the Golden Globes luncheon for first-time nominees. Speaking to Variety, Tillman stated, “We’re being silenced and pushed apart. We need more voices, we need more stories, we need more appearances, more presence across the board and not just in this country but around the world.” He expressed his commitment to the movement, saying, “I’m glad to be a part of that movement and do whatever I can to support our community and uplift us, especially the trans community, because we need it.”
Tillman, aged 40, underscored the enduring strength of LGBTQ+ people, adding, “We have each other. We’ll get through it. We will push past this, and we will survive because we always do, and we always have.” This statement comes amid a documented increase in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in the United States, with particular focus on restrictions affecting transgender individuals.
The context for Tillman's remarks includes recent legislative developments targeting transgender rights. Just this week, a bill criminalizing gender-affirming care for transgender young people passed through the US House of Representatives. Since his inauguration earlier in 2025, President Trump has signed executive orders that ban transgender people from serving in the military, bar transgender women from participating in female sports categories, and restrict gender-affirming healthcare for transgender youth under the age of 19. Additionally, efforts have been made to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs across government and military sectors.
These measures reflect a broader pattern of policy shifts impacting transgender people and the wider LGBTQ+ community. Tillman's allyship highlights the importance of visibility from prominent figures within the community, advocating for transgender inclusion alongside other queer identities.
Tillman has made history in his acting career, becoming the first Black person and the first openly gay person to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his role in "Severance" season two. This achievement followed his nomination as the first openly gay Black man in that category.
Born on June 17, 1985, in Washington, DC, and raised in Prince George’s County, Maryland, Tillman grew up in a deeply religious Baptist family. His first acting experience came at age ten in a church Christmas play, where his mother cast him as her character's son despite his initial reluctance due to shyness. In his Emmy acceptance speech, he acknowledged her as his "first acting coach," noting, “My first acting coach was tough, y’all, but all great mothers are.”
Prior to focusing on acting, Tillman pursued another career path, which informed his nuanced portrayal of Seth Milchick, a supervisory figure at the fictional Lumon Industries in "Severance." He graduated top of his class from the University of Tennessee’s MFA theater program in 2014, becoming the first African American man to do so.
Tillman has shared personal stories of coming out, including a road trip in his 20s when he initially came out to his mother as bisexual. She expressed concerns about career impacts but later embraced his identity, stating she would welcome anyone he brought home as her son. "Severance," now Apple TV+'s most-watched series, has garnered high praise for Tillman's performance, particularly in season two.
Looking ahead, Tillman has joined the cast of the Marvel Cinematic Universe film "Spider-Man: Brand New Day," set to star alongside Tom Holland, Zendaya, Jacob Batalon, Jon Bernthal, and Mark Ruffalo. He described the opportunity as a "gift," recalling his childhood fandom of Marvel and DC Comics, and noted the welcoming environment on set. Additional cast members include Sadie Sink and Liza Colón-Zayas, with roles undisclosed.
Tillman's platform as an Emmy winner and rising star positions him uniquely to amplify transgender voices and foster LGBTQ+ unity. His comments at the Golden Globes event serve as a call for increased representation, resonating with ongoing advocacy for transgender rights amid political headwinds. By centering transgender people in his message of survival and mutual support, Tillman exemplifies inclusive allyship within the community.
