Gendered Categories? Not at the MTV Movie & TV Awards

The MTV Movie & TV Awards categories are now gender neutral!

In the past, awards on the show have been presented very traditionally as "Best Actor" and "Best Actress." This year, though, they're removing gender from the equation, meaning the "Best Actor" category will include men and women.

The new and improved "Best Actor in a Movie" category pits three women (Taraji P. Henson, Hailee Steinfeld, Emma Watson) against three men (Daniel Kaluuya, Hugh Jackman, James McAvoy) in a free-for-all for the title.

Some other creative categories include "Best Comedic Performance," "Best Fight Against The System," and "Best Hero," which features Taraji P. Hensen from Hidden Figures alongside Grant Gustin from The Flash and Millie Bobbie Brown from Stranger Things, effectively pitting Hollywood, network TV, and streaming services against each other. This is an exciting departure from traditional award shows.

Considering the controversy over non-binary Billions star Asia Kate Dillon challenging the Emmy's Best Actor/Actress categories, MTV's rebranding to be gender neutral couldn't have come at a more perfect time. Anyone is more than capable of being an incredible actor, regardless of their gender, and it's about time award shows reflected that.

MTV is clearly unafraid to make statements this year. They also added a "Best American Story" category, which includes Blackish, Fresh Off the Boat, Jane the Virgin, Moonlight, and Transparent, which all focuses on people of color, immigrants, and the LGBTQ community. MTV is making impressive strides to showcase the wide spectrum of diverse talent on the airwaves.

Hey Oscars, hope you're taking notes.

Vote for your faves here. The 2017 MTV Movie & TV Awards will be hosted by Adam Devine and airs on Sunday, May 7th at 8/7c.