Thread by @PRanganathan

THREAD:

“What happened is that we don’t vote by gender. We vote by film and accomplishment.” - President, HFPA

This statement today by the head of the HFPA on the #GoldenGlobes and the lack of female nominees in the Best Director category makes me want to scream. Out loud.

This statement is the epitome of the biggest myth and misconception around diversity and inclusion: that diversity and inclusion is at the expense of merit and excellence.

Let me be clear: it is not.

Once more with feeling: It is not. #GoldenGlobes

Calling attention to the marginalization & exclusion of women in the #GoldenGIobes directing category (or racialized artists in acting categories at the #Oscars through @ReignOfApril’s #OscarsSoWhite campaign) is not asking for awards bodies to nominate unqualified candidates.

It’s asking awards bodies to pay attention to the ways their membership, processes and structures might create barriers for the inclusion of underrepresented artists in nominations and across the industry. #GoldenGlobes

It’s asking awards bodies to consider the presence and deleterious impact of sexism, racism, misogyny and homophobia within systems, processes and their application on a yearly basis. #GoldenGIobes

It’s asking awards bodies to interrogate their assumption that the presence of men and the absence of women on their lists of nominees automatically denotes excellence and merit, and a system that is working, as opposed to one that is deeply flawed. #GoldenGIobes

Because this year’s result is not the result of a lack of possible female nominees.

In fact, the presence and excellence of female directors helming powerful projects is readily apparent.

Marielle Heller. Alma Har’el. Lulu Wang. Lorene Scafaria. Greta Gerwig.

#GoldenGIobes

But no matter the list of genius female directors year to year or the film festival equality pledges or industry commitments to inclusion, the insidious, corrosive, awful excuse so blatantly & inexcusably articulated at the core of that HFPA quote exists & persists. #GoldenGlobes

It joins the myriad myths about women & racialized communities in film that, though constantly shattered, continue to persist. Myth A: ______ don’t open films or make $. Myth B: _______ can’t direct action movies. Myth C: _______-directed films have niche audiences. #GoldenGIobes

And unless & until we can shatter these myths once and for all, have real conversations about what is happening & go about the business of dismantling serious systems of oppression through bold actions and initiatives, progress will always feel illusory at best. #GoldenGlobes

For an industry meant to capture the collective consciousness of the world by activating our imaginations, the continued excuses by those gatekeepers of power within the industry are woefully tired and uninspired.

Stop the nonsense.

Do better.

Act now. #GoldenGlobes