Kim Petras made history as the first openly transgender woman to win a Grammy award at tonight’s ceremony.
Kim picked up the award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance alongside Sam Smith for their hit “Unholy,” which also made them the first trans and nonbinary artists respectively to reach number one on the Billboard chart.
“Sam, I love you so much, and this song has been such an incredible, incredible journey for me, and Sam has been a supporter of mine for so long. Sam graciously wanted me to accept this award because I’m the first transgender woman to win this award,” she began.
“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.”
Kim then thanked SOPHIE, who herself made Grammy history with her 2018 Best Dance/Electronic Album nomination. Kim continued, “SOPHIE, especially, my friend who passed away two years ago who 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.”
Kim then thanked Madonna “for fighting for LGBTQ rights” before drawing her attention 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,” she said.
“This is a huge moment for me. Sam, thank you, you’re a true angel and hero in my life,” she concluded, hugging Sam.
