Emmy Awards announce gender-neutral option for performers' statues

The Emmys are making some changes.

The Television Academy's Board of Governors announced Monday that it has approved a gender-neutral option for nominees and winners, which will go into effect this year.

"Now, nominees and (or) winners in any performer category titled 'Actor' or 'Actress' may request that their nomination certificate and Emmy statuette carry the term 'Performer' in place of Actor or Actress," the Academy said in a statement.

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The actor and actress categories themselves won't change, though the Academy notes, "No performer category titled 'Actor' or 'Actress' has ever had a gender requirement for submissions."

The Academy also said that beginning in 2022, any documentary submitted for Oscars consideration "will be deemed a theatrical motion picture and thus ineligible for the Emmy competition."

This year's Emmys will take place on Sept. 19.