Thanks for making us cry at the Emmys, 'Transparent'

Actors are known for crying at the Emmys, but rare is the speech that actually makes the audience cry.

At tonight's Emmys, Transparent director Jill Soloway became a much needed exception to the rule. Soloway, who won Best Director for a Comedy, delivered an acceptance speech that was both poignant and memorable, and included a powerful call to "topple the patriarchy."

"When you take women, people of color, trans people and queer people and put them at the center of the story, the subjects instead of the objects . . . it changes the world," Soloway said.

For Soloway, Transparent wasn't just an opportunity to exercise her imagination, but to inspire lasting social change:

"Thank you to the trans community for your lived lives -- we need to stop violence against trans woman, and topple the patriarchy!" Soloway said to loud applause in the room and all across Twitter.

Shortly after Soloway spoke and everyone blew into their tissues, Transparent actor Jeffrey Tambor accepted his award for Best Actor in a TV series, Comedy or Musical and made us weep all over again.

Tambor encouraged directors to stop hiring so many cis people to play transgender characters, and actively recruit transgender actors instead.

"I would not be unhappy were I the last cisgender male to play a female transgender on television," Tambor said.

And the award for the best acceptance speech goes to... Transparent.