Kelly Mantle breaks barriers as the first gender-fluid actor eligible for an Oscar
Gender-fluid actor Kelly Mantle explains why the Academy's historic decision to make him eligible in both male and female acting categories is opening up a bigger conversation about gender identity.
When Kelly Mantle was told that producers were submitting his work on the film Confessions of a Womanizer for the Oscar consideration, he didn't realize he was about to make history.
After being accepted for consideration, Mantle became the first gender-fluid person to be eligible for best supporting male actor as well as best supporting female actor.
"This has taken on a life of its own because of the historical outcome of this decision by the Academy," Mantle explains. "So, for me, that's the bigger picture at this point.
"It's not so much about a nomination for me, it's about the fact that I'm getting to open up the conversation and education about gender fluidity and the gender spectrum as a whole."