On Wednesday, the day before the Oscar nominations came out, GLAAD revealed the nominations for their GLAAD Media Awards. The biggest talking point is that GLAAD snubbed Emilia Perez, a musical starring a trans actress, Karla Sofia Gascon. There’s been so much discourse about Emilia Perez, with a lot of negativity coming from Latin American film critics and cultural figures. But it’s worth noting that Emilia Perez is also being hotly debated by the LGBTQ community. Part of the debate – from what I’ve seen – boils down to “is it better to have trans representation in a film, even if the film is largely problematic?” GLAAD’s answer to that question is: nope.
We have the nominees for the 36th annual GLAAD Media Awards, which honor fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community in film, TV, music, videogames, podcasts, journalism and more. But the noms don’t include one of the most talked-about films of 2024 or its trans star. More on that below.
Vying for the Outstanding Wide-Release Film prize are Cuckoo, Drive-Away Dolls, Love Lies Bleeding, Mean Girls, My Old Ass, Problemista, Queer and Wicked. Up for the Limited-Release Film award are 20,000 Species of Bees, Backspot, Before I Change My Mind, Big Boys, Close to You, Crossing, Fitting In, High Tide, Housekeeping for Beginners and A Place of Our Own.
Noticeably absent from the GLAAD noms is Jacques Audiard’s Oscar contender Emilia Pérez, which won the Golden Globe this month, and its trans star Karla Sofía Gascón, who also won a Globe and is up for SAG and BAFTA awards in February. Back in November, GLAAD put out an article titled “‘Emilia Pérez’ is Not Good Trans Representation,” labeling the film — among other things — a “profoundly retrograde portrayal of a trans woman” and calling it “a step backward.”
The “Emilia Pérez’ is Not Good Trans Representation” piece is trending again because of the snubs – you can read it here. I love film discourse and representation discourse, so this piece was a fascinating read. I actually admire GLAAD Media for holding strong in this case and saying “no mas” on what is proving to be one of the most controversial films of the awards season.
Additionally, there is another piece of “we don’t actually like Emilia Perez” news from AMPAS – this year’s Oscar telecast will not include any of the “Best Original Song” performances. They made the decision in anticipation of one or more of Emilia Perez’s songs being nominated. The cover story is that the Oscars will use that time to honor LA wildfire victims and firefighters.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA – OCTOBER 29: Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez arrive at The French American Film Festival – Opening Night Premiere Of Netflix’s ‘Emilia Perez’ held at the Directors Guild of America Theater Complex on October 29, 2024 in Los Angeles, California, United States.,Image: 928142579, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Karla Sofia Gascon, Zoe Saldana, Selena Gomez, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Karla Sofía Gascón arrives at the 15th Governors Awards in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, November 17, 2024.,Image: 936309159, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Avalon Licensing Ltd. do not claim any Copyright of the attached image WORLD RIGHTS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red/Avalon/Avalon
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- Selena Gomez, Zoe Saldaña, and Karla Sofía Gascón arrives at the 15th Governors Awards in the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, November 17, 2024.,Image: 936309301, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Avalon Licensing Ltd. do not claim any Copyright of the attached image WORLD RIGHTS- Fee Payable Upon reproduction – For queries contact Avalon sales@Avalon.red London +44 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles +1 310 822 0419 Berlin +49 30 76 212 251 Madrid +34 91 533 42 89, Model Release: no, Credit line: Avalon.red/Avalon/Avalon
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- PALM SPRINGS, RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, USA – JANUARY 03: Karla Sofia Gascon wearing a Vivienne Westwood dress with Scarosso shoes and Courreges jewelry arrives at the 36th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Awards 2025 held at the Palm Springs Convention Center on January 3, 2025 in Palm Springs, Riverside County, California, United States.,Image: 951732420, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Pictured: Karla Sofia Gascon, Credit line: Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/Avalon
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- Actress Karla Sofía Gascon attends the red carpet for Emilia Perez film Premiere at Cinepolis Plaza Carso. on January 15, 2025 in Mexico City, Mexico.,Image: 954454905, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Ismael Rosas / Alto Press/Avalon/Avalon
Well at least one organization understands we shouldn’t accept straight white dudes telling queer stories anymore. Not to mention the filmmaker is French, which is a whole different set of issues culturally. I tried watching the movie. I made it 15 minutes and had to turn it off. A shame those women have to go around pretending that it’s a good movie just to soothe a white man’s ego.
Agreed. Not to mention Karla Sofia (a white Spaniard woman) doing brownface to represent “Manitas” as a Mexican man.
Good for them. The movie is pure garbage and an insult in so many levels. At least we won’t have to endure the song’s performance at the Oscar’s
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Aside from the representation issues, it’s a crappy film I made it 20 minutes in, max. Awful. Just awful.
I haven’t watched it, but 2 friends have, and they say, as a Mexican, it makes your blood boil to see your culture so misrepresented
While I hated the musical aspect (NONE of them could sing), I did find the film amusing/enjoyable because it was chaotic and problematic.
I thought her character reminded me of Caitlyn Jenner in that after she transitioned, she still kept moving like she was a cis-gendered male.
I’m sad that now is not the time for a transwoman to be nominated for or win the Best Actress Oscar. I hope she remains safe while here.
I loved Emilia Pérez and I’m not the only one — the Academy voters did, too! It was a musical telenovela, every part waaaaaaay over-the-top and overdone and that was intentional — the director and actresses leaned hard into that style. I think it worked — it was moving, hilarious, ridiculous, gorgeous, entertaining. However, I understand that it is problematic and will read more about that. Thanks for posting links to the critiques.
I haven’t seen this and I’m straight so I have no horse in these races but I did see Drive Away Dolls and LOVED it. It was weird and delightful and I have alerts set so I know when it finally comes onto streaming.
This reminds me of how the NAACP Image Awards completely snubbed Green Book. Unfortunately it still won best picture at the Oscars but I was glad they took a stand in not celebrating that tired white savior movie and stood with Don Shirley’s family that had issues with the film.
My Old Ass was such a touching , fun film. I thought it’d be a raunchy comedy but it was surprisingly sweet and parts made me cry. Aubrey plaza wasn’t in it enough but she was great.