Kim Petras Makes History, First Out Trans Woman To Win Grammy
Image: Kim Petras and Sam Smith. Image: Instagram
Kim Petras and Sam Smith won the Grammy Award for best pop duo/group performance for their song ‘Unholy‘. Petras made history as the first out trans woman to win a Grammy.
“Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” Petras said.
Petras paid tribute to all the trans trailblazers before her. “I just want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I could be here tonight – Sophie, especially,” Petras, who received a standing ovation, said.
‘I Don’t Think I Could Be Here Without Madonna’
Sophie, also known as Sophie Xeon, was a trailblazing trans musician and producer, who in 2018 became the first trans woman to be nominated for a Grammy or best dance/electronic album for her debut album Oil of Every Pearl’s Un-insides. Sophie died in an accident in Greece in 2021.
American musician and composer Wendy Carlos was the first trans person to win a Grammy. In 1968, Carlos won three Grammy awards for their album Switched-On Bach. Carlos publicly came out as trans a decade later in an interview in Playboy magazine in 1979. American soul and rhythm and blues singer and trans pioneer Jackie Shane was nominated for a Grammy in 2017 in the Best Historical Album category.
DJ and music producer Honey Dijon was the other transgender person to be nominated for a Grammy this year. Dijon was nominated along with Beyonce in the Album of the Year category for Renaissance. The award went to Harry Styles for his album Harry’s House.
"Sam [Smith] graciously wanted me to accept this award, because I'm the first transgender woman to win this award." Watch Kim Petras' acceptance speech from the #Grammys: pic.twitter.com/jQ52Sq0t6f
— Variety (@Variety) February 6, 2023
“My friend who passed away two years ago told me this would happen and always believed in me. Thank you so much for your inspiration, Sophie. I adore you, and your inspiration will forever be in my music,” said Petras.
#Grammy winner Kim Petras on the religious inspiration behind her award show performance, “It’s a take on not being able to choose religion. And not being able to live the way that people might want you to live.” https://t.co/JUB36VWZsf pic.twitter.com/SWMyhltZ7R
— Variety (@Variety) February 6, 2023
Petras gave a shout-out to her mother. “I grew up next to a highway in nowhere Germany, and my mother believed me that I was a girl, and I wouldn’t be here without her and her support.”
Petras also thanked Madonna for “fighting for LGBTQ rights. … I don’t think I could be here without Madonna.” Later in the awards ceremony, Madonna went on to introduce Smith and Petras’ performance of their chartbuster ‘Unholy‘.
Beyonce Thanks Gay Uncle, Queer Community
Beyoncé accepts her 32nd #Grammy as she breaks the record for the most wins of all time. https://t.co/2B9c9dS1WD pic.twitter.com/5yfLlJXSv2
— Variety (@Variety) February 6, 2023
There were other queer moments during the show. Beyonce, who won the best R&B song, best dance/electronic recording, best dance/electronic album and best traditional R&B performance, and became Grammys’ most-awarded artist, thanked her gay uncle and the LGBTQI community.
“I’d like to thank the queer community for your love and for inventing the genre,” Beyonce said while accepting her award.
The other heartwarming moment was when Brandi Carlile’s wife and kids introduced her performance.
LGBTQI Artists Are Breaking Barriers
Could there be a more adorable #GRAMMYs performance intro? @brandicarlile’s family takes the stage to introduce their favorite artist. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/SMn1oGhdJ5
— CBS (@CBS) February 6, 2023
Anthony Allen Ramos, Vice President of Communications and Talent, GLAAD, said that the awards for out queer artists underscored their contributions to the music industry.
“By awarding queer artists from so many segments of the LGBTQ community and representing so many musical genres as Grammy winners, the Recording Academy reminded the world just how impactful LGBTQ people are when it comes to creating music,” said Ramos.
“From Sam Smith and Kim Petras breaking barriers for non-binary and transgender people in music by winning the Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, to Brandi Carlile and Wet Leg dominating the Rock and Alternative Music categories with multiple wins, and Steve Lacy’s win for Best Progressive R&B album, the Grammy Awards were dominated by more openly LGBTQ artists and musicians than ever before,” added Ramos.
