Lady Gaga gives speech at Pride Live’s 2019 Stonewall Day on June 28, 2019 in New York City. (James Devaney/GC Images)
The GRAMMYs has been accused of bi-erasure after forgetting about openly bisexual Lady Gaga and naming Sam Smith as the “first LGBT+ person to win Best Pop Vocal Album”.
In one of a series of tweets highlighting LGBT+ music artists for Pride Month, the GRAMMYs wrote on Twitter on Thursday, June 18: “Sam Smith made history at the 57th GRAMMYs by becoming the first openly LGBTQ person to win Best Pop Vocal Album.”
But Twitter users were quick to point out that this was completely incorrect.
One wrote: “Did you forget to include Lady Gaga, or……?”
did you forget to include Lady Gaga, or……? pic.twitter.com/FlHvDOAfDY
— z ninetales ⚔️ (@Z_ninetales) June 18, 2020
Lady Gaga is a bisexual woman, queer icon and fierce advocate for LGBT+ rights, and many on social media accused the Recording Academy, which runs the GRAMMYs, of bi-erasure for not recognising her.
One person wrote: “The erasure of Lady Gaga here is astounding! Take those pride colours off your profile pic if you aren’t going to acknowledge and praise all queer artists!
“Sam Smith, props to you, but this is wrong.”
The erasure of @ladygaga here is astounding! Take those pride colours off your profile pic if you aren’t going to acknowledge and praise all Queer artists! @samsmith props to you but this is wrong. pic.twitter.com/MX30I01rx6
— Aaron K (@AaronK_92) June 18, 2020
However, when the GRAMMYs Twitter account attempted to rectify its mistake, things went from bad to worse.
After the inaccuracy was reported to the organisation by GLAAD, the Recording Academy quoted its original tweet and clarified that Sam Smith was not the first LGBT+ person to win the award for Best Pop Vocal Album.
But in trying to defend itself, the organisation managed to misgender Smith and failed to mention Lady Gaga.
The link included in the original tweet goes to Smith’s artist page on the GRAMMYs website, which also misgenders them throughout.
Dont be shy, say her name pic.twitter.com/aoiBkmceZ4
— Gaga Said (@Astra_DeAspera) June 19, 2020
Fans took to Twitter, outraged that the original tweet had not been deleted, and that the bisexual icon had not even been mentioned in the correction.
One wrote: “This is a mess. First y’all discredit Gaga from this title because she’s obviously not bisexual enough for y’all.
“Then you try to justify it by saying it was a men’s exclusive title but Sam, the recipient, is non-binary.
“Change your profile pic and stop using LGBTQ for clout.”
Oh lord isn’t Sam Smith non binary? What a mess chile….
— Marina outsold (sexy era) (@IMD_outsold) June 19, 2020
Oh wow I just realized y’all didn’t even SAY Lady Gaga. What a mess.
— a human vuvuzela (@SapphicVamp) June 19, 2020
“You are allowed to say her name you know,” pointed out another.
One person suggested the obvious: “Ok, now make a post for Lady Gaga who is bisexual and was the first openly LGBTQ artist to win best pop vocal album.”