The Grammy Awards Are Making a Trans-Positive Move With This Choice
There are plenty of reasons to be excited about this weekend’s Grammy Awards — for instance, Beyoncé’s first appearance and performance post-pregnancy announcement, which we’re fully prepped to lose our minds over — and now we have another one. The folks behind the scenes have just announced that this year’s “trophy girls” (yep, that’s what they’re actually called) will include a man and two women, one of whom happens to be transgender.
“To be honest, the idea of a ‘trophy girl’ has felt antiquated for some time now,” Neil Portnow, President of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “Who wrote that rule anyway? The ability to present a trophy has nothing to do with one’s gender.” On top of that, he pointed out that “music’s universal power lies in its spirit of inclusion.” Well said.
That’s why this year, the winners will be handed their awards by either actress Hollin Haley, model and actor Derek Marrocco or model Martina Robledo, who happens to be transgender.
“I know it’s going to make some people uncomfortable and make others weep for joy,” Martina said, adding, “I’m just going to step out there and strut and make sure I deliver my best, because there’s people out there looking up to me.”
Check out Martina, Derek and Hollin in action when James Corden hosts the Grammys live on CBS this Sunday at 8pm.
What do you think about the Grammys choice to include a man and transgender woman in their “trophy girls”? Tweet us @BritandCo!
(h/t AP; photos via Rich Polk/Getty, The Grammy Awards)
