BAFTA shuts down talk on gender-neutral categories

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Non-binary stars have been placed in a position they hoped would not happen after BAFTA said they would not get their own gender-neutral acting categories.

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Instead, performers that include Emma Corrin, Bella Ramsey and Emma D’Arcy — all of whom use they/them pronouns — will have to decide if they want to compete as “actors” or “actresses.”

Officials of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts debated for two years how to handle the “gendered” acting categories, but revised guidelines released last week said producers must “confirm the gender/gender identity of each candidate for nomination,” the Daily Mail reported.

“It is up to the entrant which category they enter into,” a source told the publication.

BAFTA sought guidance from “sector peers, industry stakeholders and experts” for a “proactive and thoughtful consultation” soon after the Brit Awards went gender-neutral in 2022.

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The Brits changed the labels that it impacted to “Artist” and “Act,” with no genders mentioned.

A BAFTA spokesman said that while the actor and actress categories remained, the certificate and mask could carry the term “performer” if that was preferred by the winner, according to the Mail.

The Academy Awards and Tony Awards also are said to have explored the possibility of introducing gender-neutral categories but both shows have kept their Lead Actor and Actress labels.

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Corrin previously accused awards ceremonies of not being “inclusive enough,” telling BBC News that a change would allow for everyone to feel “acknowledged and represented.”

They continued: “When it comes to categories, do we need to make it specific as to whether you’re being nominated for a female role or a male role?

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“You can discuss awards and the representation there, but really the conversation needs to be about having more representation in the material itself, in the content that we are seeing for non-binary people, for queer people, for trans people, because then I think that will change a lot.”

Corrin added: “I hope for a future in which that happens.”

Meanwhile, All Saints star Shaznay Lewis is concerned women will be “disregarded and excluded” by gender neutral categories.

The singer referenced the Brit Awards’ new policy, saying a generation of girls would lose out on that experience of winning.

“Progressive ideas should benefit everyone, but how can that be the case if we do not acknowledge female artists, the female artists who are symbols of empowerment to millions of young aspiring women?” she asked during an interview with Radio Times, according to Rolling Stone.

“The birth of the new award has seen the demise of both best male and the best female categories and women, predictably, have suffered as a result.”

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