As the Video Music Awards 2017 is only a day to be aired, MTV is gearing up for a super-sized 2017 edition. Katy Perry, Miley Cyrus, and Kendrick Lamar will undoubtedly dominate the show but they are not the only stars of the Video Music Awards that will be held this Sunday, August 27, in the south of Los Angeles, California.
The American television channel has invited the transgender troops of the U.S. Armed Forces to the ceremony, while a new White House memo reveals that the ban on transgenders in the army should come into force within six months after Donald Trumps's decision.
the BBC reported.
'It's an honor' says Chris McCarthy
"We would be honored if they could come. Any patriot who puts his life in danger to fight for our freedom and defend equality is a "hero" for MTV, and for all the young people of the world," said President of the channel Chris McCarthy in a statement relayed by NBC News.
"The U.S. active duty transgender members of the Armed Forces have been invited to the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles," said Mr. McCarthy.
"The Defence Department assured that these individual invitations had been received and that their parameters were being considered," he added. It remains to be seen whether these soldiers in service will be allowed to go to The Forum in Inglewood, where the ceremony will take place on Sunday night.
Committed precedents
The network is looking to make a political statement at the VMAs in response to the President Donald Trump’s tweets in July, in which he said the transgenders will no longer serve in the Army.
Last year, the MTV VMA ceremony had already taken a political turn with the presence of four mothers who lost their sons as a result of police actions, members of a group known as Mothers of the Movement appeared alongside Beyonce.
Similarly, in 2010, Lady Gaga hit the red carpet of the awards ceremony with four soldiers who were either discharged or asked to leave the military over the 'Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy.'
MTV VMA 2017 - Performers
Ed Sheeran, Thirty Seconds to Mars, Lorde, Gucci Mane, Miley Cyrus, and Rod Stewart are among the acts who will be performing at the ceremony.
Ed Sheeran, Ariana Grande, and Kendrick Lamar are among those up for the best artist award which replaces the best male and best female video groups.
Earlier this year, Emma Watson won the first gender-neutral prize at the MTV TV & Movie Awards. The former Harry Potter star bagged the best big screen actor award for her role as Belle in Beauty & the Beast. The MTV VMA hosted by Katy Perry will be aired in the UK at 8 pm on Monday.
