LONDON (NWN) – Pop star Kim Petras is taking a stand for LGBTQ rights at the 2021 MTV EMAs.
The German singer-songwriter performs at the EMA festival in Budapest, Hungary on November 14.
“I’m transgender and performing at the EMAs,” Petras said. “It’s going to be very powerful to be in Hungary and perform the show when these laws have just happened.”
A law passed by the Hungarian parliament in June prohibits minors from displaying content that depicts homosexuality or gender change.
Chris McCarthy, president and CEO of MTV Entertainment Group Worldwide, recently stood by the decision to host the awards there. He said the ceremony was an opportunity to make a stand for gay and trans civil rights around the world and that no censorship of broadcasts would be tolerated.
This is an option that Petras fully supports.
“I don’t feel good about the passage of those laws, but I think it’s amazing that MTV is taking a stand and not allowing censorship,” Petras told the Associated Press.
He hopes it will inspire the local LGBTQ community to “not give up on themselves” and to unite through music.
“Music is such a powerful thing because music breaks down barriers and it really doesn’t matter what gender you are, or what sexuality, what color of your skin, music is a very universal thing.”
The event will see the 29-year-old for the first time a new song from his upcoming, as yet untitled, debut album.
It follows the single “The Future Starts Now”, which she released in October—a song that Petras says is about the struggle to lift herself from depression and overcome anxiety.
She admits that she struggles to live in the moment.
Petras goes on to say that, while she loves what she does, she finds it difficult to relax and stop working out. She began therapy during the coronavirus lockdown to help her process these feelings.
Writing the track helped her overcome the pandemic, so she also wanted to bring that philosophy and state of mind to her fans.
In the end, she says, “It’s the power of music that you can inspire people to feel better about themselves and try to live in the moment and try not to stress about the future.” Huh.”
Hosted by American rapper Sowety, the 2021 MTV EMAs will broadcast live on MTV channels in 180 countries.
Colombian star Maluma and Eurovision winner Menaskin will also perform at the live show. The night before, American band OneRepublic will headline MTV World Stage Hungary in Budapest’s Heroes Square.
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