Janelle Monáe dedicates her Grammy nominations to her ‘trans brothers and sisters’

Recording artist Janelle Monáe has dedicated her Grammy nominations to her ‘trans brothers and sisters.’

Monáe, who came out as pansexual last year, received two nominations from the Recording Academy. The first is for Best Music Video for her single Pynk. The second is a nomination for Album of the Year for her record Dirty Computer.

Trans Brothers & Sisters

Speaking to Variety, Monáe dedicated this experience to transgender people, who are rarely recognized at award shows.

‘My trans brother and sisters, they do it every day. And they are shunned from these sorts of events. So this one is for them,’ she said.

Monáe also discussed that, upon coming out as pansexual, many people advised her not to do it. Despite this, she found it incredibly important to be an out artist.

‘My goal has never been to fit into any type of category,’ she explained. ‘And when you color outside the lines, and then you say, “Hey, also, I’m a queer black woman,” some people can be a little afraid of that. And what that means and how do you market that and all those things. But it wasn’t about that to me. [It’s about] walking in your truth.’

Female Empowerment

For Monáe, the fact so many women are nominated for this year’s Grammy Awards is significant.

‘Well, we have made progress. We have not arrived, we have a lot more work to do,’ she said. ‘Last year, I remember taking that stage and you can feel my frustration around our representation and this year, to have 15 women nominated in the big four categories is a beautiful thing and it’s to be celebrated.’

In addition to Monáe, other female artists nominated this year include Lady Gaga, P!nk, Taylor Swift, Cardi B, and more.

Watch the 61st Grammy Awards this Sunday, 10 February.

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