Emmy Awards will replace 'actor' and 'actress' statues with 'Performer' at the winner or nominee's request

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The Emmy Awards are giving nominees the option to be more gender-inclusive with their statues. 

The Television Academy's Board of Governors announced Monday that it has approved rule changes that will allow nominees an option to request that their nomination certificate and possible Emmy statuette use the term "Performer" rather than "Actor" or "Actress." 

The move answers recent calls from gender non-conforming stars to make the awards system less dependant on pronouns and gendered casting. 

"No performer category titled ‘Actor’ or ‘Actress’ has ever had a gender requirement for submissions," the Television Academy wrote on Tuesday (via Deadline). "Now, nominees and (or) winners in any performer category titled ‘Actor’ or ‘Actress’ may request that their nomination certificate and Emmy statuette carry the term ‘Performer’ in place of Actor or Actress."

The outlet reported that the option will take effect beginning with the current 2021 Emmy Awards season, just ahead of the Primetime Emmy Awards, which will be named on July 13.

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The Television Academy announced that it will give stars the option for a more gender-neutral Emmy statue. (Matt Sayles/Invision/AP, File)

Entertainment Weekly reported that the Academy made sure to state that the Emmys will not change the way the actor and actress categories are selected or voted on. This change merely allows for stars to have a preference on their nominations and wins.

"Billions" star Asia Kate Dillon, who identifies as nonbinary, was one of the loudest voices championing gender-neutral change. Variety reported that the 36-year-old sent a letter to the Television Academy in 2017.

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"I wanted to get more information from the Academy as to whether or not they use the word actor or actress to refer to assigned sex or identity so that I could make the best decision for myself as to how I wanted to be submitted," Dillon told the outlet at the time.

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The 2021 Primetime Emmys are currently scheduled to take place on Sept. 19. It is unclear as of now who the nominees are and therefore it is unknown whether or not any Hollywood TV stars plan to be the first to take the Academy up on its gender-neutral option.