The recent move by BAFTA to ask film producers to prove each nominee’s gender identity has caused a lot of controversy in the entertainment business. This change could mean a lot for nonbinary performers who don’t fit into standard gender roles. Even though BAFTA says it has had “proactive and thoughtful consultation” with experts and workers in the field, it has decided not to add gender-neutral categories like the Brit Awards has.
Nonbinary artists and supporters are upset about this choice because they say it keeps them from being recognised and portrayed. Emma Corrin, an actress who uses they/them pronouns and is nonbinary, has been a strong voice for making award shows more welcoming. He thinks the current categories are “not inclusive enough” and has asked for gender-neutral categories to be added so that all performers feel “acknowledged and represented.”
It’s not just BAFTA that’s having a discussion about gender-neutral categories. The Oscars and Tonys have also thought about adding more open categories, but they have decided to stick with the standard “Best Actress” and “Best Actor” names. Some people say it’s important to recognise and show all identities, but others, like Adele, are proud of their gender identity and would rather fit into standard categories.
Because of BAFTA’s choice, we need to talk about identity, representation, and acceptance in the entertainment business. It’s clear that there is still a lot of work to be done to make sure that all performers feel like they belong and are appreciated as the business changes. It’s still up for debate: should award shows change their traditional labels to include nonbinary artists, or is this going too far?
