Kim Petras and Sam Smith Make History at the Grammy Awards, Becoming the First Out Nonbinary and Trans Woman to Win Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

German pop star Kim Petras and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sam Smith made history at the Grammy Awards Sunday night, becoming the first out nonbinary and trans woman, respectively, to win the award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their song “Unholy.”

Petras, who received a standing ovation during her speech, thanked the “incredible transgender legends” before her who kicked open doors for her, including Madonna and the late Grammy-nominated artist Sophie.

“I want to thank all the incredible transgender legends before me who kicked these doors open for me so I could be here tonight,” Petras said.

Smith graciously allowed Petras to accept the award, recognizing her history-making moment. Petras then gave an emotional shoutout to her friend Sophie, a Scottish singer who died in 2021 after an accidental fall.

“I want to thank my friend Sophie,” Petras said. “She was an incredible artist and an incredible person. I know she’s looking down on us and she’s so proud.”

The win marks a milestone for the LGBTQ community, and Petras and Smith’s acceptance of the award was a powerful moment for the community. Petras’s win is a testament to the progress the LGBTQ community has made in recent years, and a reminder of the importance of recognizing and celebrating the accomplishments of trans and nonbinary artists.