9 Moments That Gave the 2015 Golden Globes a Political Charge

Jill Soloway, the creator of Transparent, delivered an incredible speech addressed to the transgender community, specifically Leelah Alcorn, the transgender teen who left a suicide note on Tumblr in December:

"I want to thank the trans community. They are our family. They make this possible. This award is dedicated to the memory of Leelah Alcorn, and too many trans people who die too young. And it's dedicated to you, my trans parent, my moppa, you're watching at home right now. And I just want to thank you for coming out. Because in doing so, you made a break for freedom, you told your truth, you taught me how to tell my truth and make this show. And maybe we're going to be able to teach the world something about authenticity and truth and love. To love."

When Jeffrey Tambor later won best actor, he also spoke of the transgender community, saying, "Oh, this is big. This is much bigger than me . . . If I may, I would like to dedicate my performance and this award to the transgender community. Thank you, thank you, thank you for your courage, thank you for your inspiration, thank you for your patience, and thank you for letting us be a part of the change."

Jane the Virgin actress Gina Rodriguez seized her best TV actress win as an opportunity to represent her cultural upbringing. She said, "This award is so much more than myself. It represents a culture that wants to see themselves as heroes. My father used to tell me to say every morning, 'Today's going to be a great day. I can, and I will.' Well, Dad, today's going to be a great day. I can, and I did."

Joanne Froggatt's depiction of Anna Bates, a rape victim on Downton Abbey, earned her a Golden Globe for best actress. She took the opportunity to address those who wrote to her after the episode aired, saying, "I received a small number of letters from survivors of rape. One woman summed up the thoughts of many by saying she wasn't sure why she'd written but she just felt in some way she wanted to be heard. I'd like to say, I heard you, and I hope saying this so publicly in some way means you feel the world hears you."

Tina and Amy were, of course, the hosts of the night, and in their opening monologue, they weren't afraid to go there. While some might have taken offense to the Bill Cosby jokes, they certainly created a space to discuss an issue that is often too difficult or uncomfortable to address outright.

But that's not all! Tina also tackled ridiculous beauty standards that are brought against women in the entertainment industry. "Steve Carell's Foxcatcher look took two hours to put on, including his hairstyling and makeup," she said. "Just for comparison, it took me three hours today to prepare for my role as human woman."

And finally, let's not forget the pair's on-point jab at George Clooney: "George Clooney married Amal Alamuddin this year. Amal is a human rights lawyer who worked on the Enron case, was an advisor to Kofi Annan regarding Syria, and was selected for a three-person UN commission investigating rules of war violations in the Gaza Strip. So tonight . . . her husband is getting a lifetime achievement award."

When this duo took the stage to accept the award for best original song — they won for "Glory" in Selma — Common said, "Selma has awakened my humanity. We look to the future, and we want to create a better world. Now is our time to change the world. Selma is now." John also chimed in to thank those who are "out there fighting for justice right now."

Matt Bomer's performance in The Normal Heart earned him a Golden Globe for best actor in a TV movie or miniseries. He closed out his beautiful speech with these incredible words: "To the generation that we lost and the people we continue to lose to this disease, I just want to say, we love you, and we remember you."

Maggie Gyllenhaal had an adorable sibling date night with her brother, Jake, but even better, her acceptance speech for The Honourable Woman really shed light on the depth of modern-day female characters:

"I think I've noticed a lot of people talking about the wealth of roles for powerful women in television lately. And when I look around the room at the women who are in here and I think about the performances that I've watched this year, what I see actually are women who are sometimes powerful and sometimes not; sometimes sexy, sometimes not; sometimes honorable and sometimes not. And what I think is new is the wealth of roles for actual women in television and in film. That's what I think is revolutionary, and evolutionary, and it's what's turning me on."

When Amy Adams won for best actress in Big Eyes, she brought the attention to her daughter and also what she's learning from the women in the spotlight today. "I have so many wonderful female role models here tonight. It's just so wonderful that women today have such a strong voice," she said. "And I have a four-and-a-half-year-old, and I'm so grateful to have all the women in this room; you speak to her so loudly. She watches everything and she sees everything. And I'm just so, so grateful for all of you women in this room who have such a lovely, beautiful voice."

Patricia Arquette accepted her award for best supporting actress in Boyhood, saying, "You placed in my hands the part of Olivia, an underappreciated single mother. Thank you for shining a light on this woman and the millions of women like her and for allowing me to honor my own mother with this beautiful character."