‘No space for me.’ Some nonbinary actors withdraw from awards over gendered categories
More nonbinary actors are stepping out into the spotlight and gaining recognition for commendable acting performances.
But that spotlight also uncovers the industry’s complicated history with gendered performance awards. Rather than deny their nonbinary identity, some actors are opting to boycott gendered awards altogether.
Liv Hewson, who plays goalkeeper Van on Showtime’s wildly popular “Yellowjackets”, told Variety they were left with no choice but to forgo consideration for an Emmy award because the Television Academy separates acting categories into binary genders, leaving no space for nonbinary actors like them.
“There’s not a place for me in the acting categories,” Hewson told the outlet. “It would be inaccurate for me to submit myself as an actress. It neither makes sense for me to be lumped in with the boys. It’s quite straightforward and not that loaded. I can’t submit myself for this because there’s no space for me.”
Hewson confirmed the news in an Instagram story. Their co-stars praised their decision.
“I love @liv.hewson and love that they’ve bravely and articulately opened up the conversation about how to submit yourself for gendered acting categories as a non-binary (and super talented) actor,” Melanie Lynskey said in an April 27 post on Instagram. Lynskey plays the character Shauna Sadecki as an adult in the show.
Fans seemed to agree with Lynskey’s sentiment.
“I am so happy Liv is opening that dialogue,” someone said in comments on the post. “It’s no question that they deserve recognition, but the gendered categories are outdated and not inclusive of the wide spectrum of genders. Thank you, Liv!”
Representatives for the Television Academy, the organization that runs the Emmy awards, did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.
Spokesperson Jim Yeager told the LA Times in an email that performance categories have been divided between binary genders since the third ceremony in 1950, and that it’s up to nonbinary actors to decide which category they submit their work in — or to decide not to submit their work for the acting categories at all.
Hewson is one of a handful of trans and nonbinary actors who have made similar decisions and cited similar reasons.
Emma Corrin, who plays Diana in “The Crown,” opened up last year about struggling to justify their nonbinary identity while they were nominated in female categories, BBC News reported.
In January, Emma D’Arcy reflected on the irony of getting nominated for Best Actress at the Golden Globes for their role as Rhaenyra Targaryen on HBO’s “House of the Dragon” after they stopped presenting as a woman and outwardly presented their nonbinary identity instead, BuzzFeed reported.
A spokesperson for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization behind the Golden Globes, did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment.
Nonbinary actor Asia Kate Dillon turned down Tony and Emmy considerations in 2022 and 2017, reports say.
Nonbinary actor E.R. Fightmaster told the Los Angeles Times they struggled to decide which acting category they would submit their work on “Grey’s Anatomy” in 2022.
In February, Broadway actor Justin David Sullivan rejected their consideration for a Tony because of the award’s gendered categories, according to a Feb. 2 post on the actor’s Instagram account.
“Because I was told I had no other option but to choose between one of the two gendered categories in which I would be eligible, I felt that I had no choice but to abstain from being considered for a nomination this season,” they said in the post. “I could not in good faith move forward with denying any part of my identity to conform to a system and structure that does not hold space for people like me. Although this decision was difficult to make, I am hopeful that award shows will learn from this and make the meaningful changes necessary in order to consider, nominate, and award people of all gender identities moving forward.”
The organization that runs the Tonys sent a statement to BuzzFeed News saying it recognizes the acting categories are “not fully inclusive” and the organization is “in discussion about how to best adjust them to address this,” the outlet reported.
“We are working thoughtfully to ensure that no member of our community feels excluded on the basis of gender identity in future seasons,” the statement says.
Swapping gendered awards for non-gendered ones could pave the way for gender nonconforming front-runners, such as Bella Ramsey of HBO’s “The Last of Us.” The star opened up about being gender fluid earlier this year.
Other gender nonconforming actors decided differently and opened up about their “intentional” choice to accept Tony considerations.
J. Harrison Ghee and Alex Newell, both nonbinary actors, “made history” May 2 when they became the first nonbinary actors to be nominated for Tony Awards, the Los Angeles Times reported.
This story was originally published May 2, 2023 at 7:21 PM with the headline "‘No space for me.’ Some nonbinary actors withdraw from awards over gendered categories."
