The Argument for a Black/Ethnic Performer Category at the Transgender Erotica Awards.

[GroobySteven]

We used to have a specific Black Performer Award. Up until 2014, Black-Tgirls.com (a Grooby website) sponsored it’s own ‘Model of the Year’, the same way Kink, Shemale Strokers, Bobs-Tgirls etc. always have done.
We combined the ShemaleYum and Black-Tgirls Models of the Year into one fan voted, GroobyGirls Model of the Year for the last two years, mainly because it was hard to get enough people to participate in the voting process. And that’s where we are now.
We’re looking at having a ‘Best Black/Ethnic Performer of the Year’ category at the TEA’s. There are argument for and against it, which is why we want to hear your views.
For;


most of the fans of ebony models do not seem to use social media as much – or do not vote. Yet the models are there and the fans are there as we know from our sites.
we would be more inclusive of more models.
nominated models in a Black/Ethnic category are still eligible to be nominated in all other categories.
we are celebrating diversity.

Against;


is it more inclusive, or does it create another issue by having exclusive categories?
are there enough models/performers working regularly to fill a whole category?
do we alienate or cause offence to anyone not wanting to be in a different category?

We look forward to hearing from you either on Twitter: @TGEroticaAwards, Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TGEroticaAwards/ or via email at admin@grooby.com or in reply here

[Ben in LA]

Keep it the way it is.

[Nikka]

yes I remember that moment :)

[Lester316]

Personally I think keep it as it is unless you would be willing to dilute each category and have several subsets and risk the problem of alienating those that don't want to be in a different category. I can see the argument for a Black/Ethnic category but what else should there possibly be if that were the case and how far do you go in defining differences (ie: South American all the way to say Brazilian, or Asian all the way Thai or Japanese for examples).

Celebrating differences is all good but there is a fine line between that and being too exclusive. Let's stick to the most important thing celebrating what the performers all have in common - that they are all unique and amazing in their own ways.

[frosty51]

Keep it the way it is.

Ditto.

[blackchubby38]

I don't think you want the headaches that are going to come from creating the category. I say keep it the way it is.

[CoolAwesomeBXDude]

keep it the way it is

[SP27]

merge them - you know its the right thing to do.

its basically segregation or separate but equal. its saying like the black performers aren't good enough to compete with the white chicks.

[ed_jaxon]

I have to argue the opposite from my boys Cool Awesome and Ben.

i work with a number of girls of color and they don't get the exposure that other girls get. Where you might have say Honey nominated in the general category, having an additional category gives five or six girls not only exposure but gives them the support of having other girls there.

I have not heard this being a big issue at the past few awards shows but more diversity is a good thing.

[MrFanti]

Leave it as is - otherwise, then the following is needed:

-Asian
-Native American
-Bollywood Indian

Etcetera....etcetera....etcetera....

[Tapatio]

Awards that others garner aren't that important to me.

Maybe ask the girls instead?

[Pipedreamer]

I would have to agree with the points ed_jaxon made. But sadly people take offense to idea of it. I would guess that they are the same ones who find BET to be unnecessary and offensive. I just don't see the harm behind it.

[MrFanti]

I would have to agree with the points ed_jaxon made. But sadly people take offense to idea of it. I would guess that they are the same ones who find BET to be unnecessary and offensive. I just don't see the harm behind it.

I'm Black...but I don't think there should be a separate category....

[Pipedreamer]

Well, like I said before, I don't see the harm. I think having multiple ethnic award categories would be a good thing in general. Being that Grooby has sites catered towards black, latin,and asian girls, having specific award categories for them only makes sense to me. Now with that said I don't think that should disqualify them for being eligible for general categories. I just think the lesser exposed girls would benefit greatly from it.

[MrFanti]

. I think having multiple ethnic award categories would be a good thing in general. .
Where to begin...and where to end?
What exactly would all the categories be?
Will there be the same categories in FTM transgender stars?

etcetera...etcetera...

[giovanni_hotel]

Trans-porn as a genre is so miniscule in the big scheme of things, I don't see what's wrong with giving nearly all the girls an award if they produce a certain number of scenes or sell a particular amount of views.

[GroobySteven]

Trans-porn as a genre is so miniscule in the big scheme of things, I don't see what's wrong with giving nearly all the girls an award if they produce a certain number of scenes or sell a particular amount of views.

Do you mean like Special Olympics?

[GroobySteven]

Leave it as is - otherwise, then the following is needed:

-Asian
-Native American
-Bollywood Indian

Etcetera....etcetera....etcetera....

That's the slippery slope argument and not really valid. There aren't large groups of Asian, Native American or Indian models that are getting overlooked, compared to Black Models.

We can only get about 16 nominees into each category to make it able to be judged. The 16 performers/models that we currently have in Best Solo Model and Best Hardcore Model are all fantastic and deserve their slot in there, only one in each is a person of colour.

For whatever reasons, when polled, members of Black Tgirls or this site, barely put a black girl forward. How many of you pre-nominated? How many put a black model in? I don't believe this is because you don't rate black models as highly in most instances, but non-black girls tend to get more exposure, spend more time on social network interacting. There are only a couple of companies that specialise or work regularly with black tgirl models, so the producers are unable to put in also.

[GroobySteven]

Awards that others garner aren't that important to me.

Maybe ask the girls instead?

Thanks for participating. :werd:

[Ts RedVeX]

I think you over analyse things.. You are free to have whatever categories you like as organiser or those competitions. Some people will like it, others will not... It doesn't harm anybody. All you lose is that extra trophy you need to have made!

[MrFanti]

That's the slippery slope argument and not really valid. There aren't large groups of Asian, Native American or Indian models that are getting overlooked, compared to Black Models.



Point taken.
That being said, even though the other ethnic groups are numerically smaller, it would be interesting to hear the perspectives of the performers within those ethnic groups...

I would say there are HUGE numbers of Asian performers - they're just not in the USA...

[MrFanti]

I think you over analyse things.. You are free to have whatever categories you like as organiser or those competitions. Some people will like it, others will not... It doesn't harm anybody. All you lose is that extra trophy you need to have made!

But...."everyone gets a trophy these days"....;-)

[GroobySteven]

I would say there are HUGE numbers of Asian performers - they're just not in the USA...

And eligible for the 'Non-US Performers Award.'

[GroobySteven]

I think you over analyse things.. You are free to have whatever categories you like as organiser or those competitions. Some people will like it, others will not... It doesn't harm anybody. All you lose is that extra trophy you need to have made!

If we didn't take into account the people who came to the show, and participated in the show, then we wouldn't be doing a very good job. As the caretaker of the awards which run on participation from sponsors, models and fans - we're interested in hearing feedback and viewpoints before making a decision.

[fred41]

I think it may be better for the show itself to have the separate category - more categories create more winners...more winners create more participants...more participants may then include a wider fanbase. I'm sure there are dudes that may have a particular thing for black girls and others who would just like to see a great ethnic turnout...variety is the spice of life.
At the very least,I don't think having the category can hurt the show in any conceivable way, but it can possibly make it even better.
Originally I would have said "keep it the way it is" because I figured do what's easiest for you, but Ed Jaxon bought up excellent points in his post and I agree with him.
Some folks will bicker about it regardless of which way you decide , but it's a lighthearted awards show and party that's meant to be fun ...and nothing says fun like hot black chicks ! The more the better :D

[MrFanti]

And eligible for the 'Non-US Performers Award.'
Is this a completely global category or is it broken up? For example "European Performer's Award"...?