The makers of the movie have put Mantle forward for consideration at the Academy Awards, but as they filed the paperwork, they were faced with the question of whether to nominate Mantle as an actor or an actress. They have chosen to do both.
According to movie director and writer Miguel Ali, "The Academy Awards have confirmed that Kelly Mantle will be considered for both the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress for her role in "Confessions of a Womanizer" — this is in recognition of her androgynous identity."
@thekellymantle or @LilyTomlin #kellymantle #lilytomlin @RuPaul pic.twitter.com/KYltrbeIEa
— Miss Wobble (@richie_rich77) 21 октября 2016 г.
Ali perceives the nomination as a way to bring more attention to the transgender community:
"I firmly believe that our androgynous/transgender acting community is the most untapped resource in Hollywood. We need to bring them more attention, and by doing so, we will create more empathy for our androgynous/transgender brothers and sisters."
According to Academy Awards rules, actors are nominated for the award if their work impresses the voters — a jury comprised of actors and actresses. It is unclear whether the double nomination would mathematically increase or decrease Mantle's chance of success.
Mantle, born male, identifies as a "gender fluid" or a person with a varying gender identity. Mantle is not the first gender fluid or transgender actor to contest for an Oscar; however, all previous actors were awarded according to their biological sex, with the exception of Linda Hunt, who won the supporting actress prize for playing a male dwarf in 1982 movie "The Year of Living Dangerously." Mantle will be the first actor to seek a nomination in both gender categories.
