Asia Kate Dillon pens letter asking SAG committee to drop gender-specific categories

Asia Kate Dillon has had a lot of firsts–they were one of the first non-gender-binary actors cast in a major television show (as Brandy Epps in Orange in the New Black), and the first to play a non-binary character in a major television show (Billions). Now they are calling for more firsts–an end to the gender-specific acting categories within the SAG Awards.Penning an open letter to the SAG-AFTRA awards committee, which was published in Variety, Dillon (who uses they/them/their pronouns) explains very clearly why categorizing acting based on gender rather than talent amounts to nothing more than discrimination and excludes those who don’t identify as men or women.[video_embed id='1973979']RELATED: Daniel Radcliffe voices support for transgender community[/video_embed]“Not only do your current categories erase non-binary identities by limiting performers to identifying as male or female / man or womxn (which not all SAG members, like myself, do), they also serve as an endorsement of the gender binary at large, which actively upholds other forms of discrimination, including racism, the patriarchy, and gender violence.”Noting that no other SAG-AFTRA categories are separated by gender, such as Best Director, Cinematographer, Sound Designer, Dillon makes a point of noting that fellow non gender-conforming individuals, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour), trans and disabled womxn do not achieve the recognition they deserve at any award show.This letter was precipitated by the awards committee inviting Dillon to participate as a judge at the 27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards--Motion Pictures. They have been asked to judge the Female Actor in a Leading Role category, Female Actor in a Supporting Role category, Male Actor in a Leading Role category, Male Actor in a Supporting Role category, Cast in a Motion Picture, and Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture.However, the Billions and John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum star is no stranger to the awards circuit and wanted to remind them of their stance..“Not only is it possible to combine all of your leading and supporting nominees into the same gender-neutral categories, there is precedent. On May 7, 2017, I presented the first gender-neutral acting award, to Emma Watson, at the MTV Movie & TV Awards," the letter read.

#MTVAwards: Asia Kate Dillon presents gender-neutral acting award to Emma Watson https://t.co/bDgVu89Ks2 pic.twitter.com/YoyydJv4Ty

— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 8, 2017

However, they note that in the past, they felt “respected in my identify” when the Emmys and the Critics' Choice Awards allowed for the option to be nominated in the Best Supporting Actor category (rather than “actress”), the separation still reinforces gender norms. “I now recognize, however, that being submitted or nominated within categories that reinforce the gender-binary should have been met with my outright rejection of those nominations, alongside calling for change.”Dillon caps off the letter by stating they will be “thrilled” to participate as a judge once the gender-specific categories are abolished. A spokesperson for the SAG Awards has yet to respond to Dillon's letter.[video_embed id='1975398']RELATED: Ava DuVernay elected to Oscars board of governors[/video_embed]