HOLLYWOOD—The venerable Avalon in Hollywood, across the street from the landmark Capitol Records building and steps from the corner of Hollywood and Vine, hosted the 18th Trans Erotica Awards Sunday night. (photo galleries)
Guests entered via two red carpets, one on Vine Street and one under the theater's canopy, with backdrops carrying 31 sponsor logos, including online news sources, production companies, streamers, and talent, above and below the Trans Erotica Awards banner. Inside, sponsor tables filled the floor, sponsor logos flashed on the side screens, and the show's logo was joyous, with TEA 2026 in brightly colored balloons.
Red carpet host Banksie told AVN she was looking forward to "seeing everyone's outfits. The fashion, the style that everybody's going to be bringing to the show. I want to see more trans masc representation, not just in the trans masc community but beyond, in the adult industry, period. We need more. Nicky Zeal is a great representation of the community."
Veteran performer Brittany Andrews, speaking of her production The Naughty Nanny, said she did a scene with two trans masc performers, and during the production they realized "we didn’t speak the same language because we were from different worlds. We had to come up with a lexicon. Out of my 35 years of being in the business, this was the most interesting, and long, and funny, pre-discussion before a scene." Coby Webb, nominated for Best Trans Masc Performer, told AVN, "I'm optimistic, but nervous. I'm the only nominee that's a fetish creator and has not done a professional scene for the whole year. I'm a little antsy, but I have hope."
"The TEA awards are the most important event of our industry, because it is exclusively highlighting the trans category," nominee Blake Lovely said. "It's really incredible to have a space that only highlights what we do."
Aiden Starr told AVN, "I worked on a lot of really, really great movies as a trans female director, and I'm really looking forward to them being recognized tonight." Spotted in the crowd: Jim Powers, Ariel Demure, Zariah Aura and Nicky Zeal, James Bartholet, Giana Taylor, Eric John, Coco Lovelock.
Emma Rose was back after a year hiatus. "It was such a nice break. I just shot a scene with Trans Angels, I won't say who it is but it's another trans girl. It's nice to be back." Performer Sage Roux said he was nominated, "but I don’t remember for what. I'm catching up with people, seeing everyone, just hanging out. It's been a good year. Can't complain."
Siouxsie Q told AVN, "I am deeply honored to be nominated as best producer, in my own right. Michael [Vegas] and I are a director-producer team, but it's nice to get something just for me. The Bottom Floor is nominated for Best Threesome/Moresome Scene, and I hope we win."
"I'm up for Director of the Year, directing some scene, and I think I'm getting a Lifetime Achievement award. It means I'm old," Ricky Greenwood said with a grin. "Ten years doesn't sound like a lifetime to me. Trans was the first type of production I was doing. When I started, it was a different business, and I've seen it grow."
Right before the show, Steven Grooby told AVN, "It's very good. Everybody's here. I think it’s the biggest show we've done. The most people. It's so good that people can come here and be part of their own community. That's what I like."
The show started at 10:30 with a rap set by performer King Noire, featuring a call-and-response of "Treat her like a queen/Fuck her like a porn star" before the entrance of emcee Domino Presley, who thanked the audience for "risking your lives coming here to support us" before name-checking the entire Grooby staff.
The first award, Best DVD, had a tie: the first winner was Transpirella. Jim Powers said when he saw the comic book character Vampirella he told Ariel Demure he had the perfect role for her.
The second Best DVD winner was Once Upon a TS Summer. Director/co-screenwriter Blake Lovely said, "Three years ago, I stood on this stage, for a different awards show, as the only trans person in the room. And now I'm surrounded by a family of people that made me feel so welcome. We made something fuckin' special. Every single one of you is the reason why we're standing on this stage here tonight. All I can say is thank you. I'm shaking."
Jessica Drake won Best Industry Professional. Visibly moved, she read from notes, saying, "I'm really nervous, because this means so much to me. I am accepting this award with honor, with gratitude, and with responsibility. I am honored to be with you all, and share in community tonight. I'm grateful for this amazing space that we have made to be very safe, where we can all be whoever we are. And I want to give thanks to the people who made this space where we can feel so good: Kristel, Steven, the whole staff of the TEA awards... and, finally, this award comes with responsibility. And I promise every single one of you: I will never, ever, ever stop fighting for you."
The Best Cam Performer award, sponsored by Streamate, (many of the TEA awards are sponsored) went to Angela Longcock, who accepted on video. Black T-Girls Model of the Year went to Ana Andrews, who pointed out, "I am burning all my PTO to come here." Best Internet Personality winner Jade Nyxxx told the crowd, "Please, everyone, stay visible. I know things are tough right now. We just gotta fight. We gotta stay visible. We're not going anywhere."
Called up to the stage for Best Trans Masc Scene, Zariah Aura asked "What did we win?" before saying "We need more trans men in front of the camera. They're always picking us up and doing everything behind the camera. Let's put them in front of the fuckin' camera."
Steven Grooby returned to the stage to introduce a second new award: Recognition of Inclusion. "This year, there was a scene which we felt didn’t really fit anywhere. But it was so fucking good that it deserved an award. So we made up an award for it. We hope we can give it every year. It recognized the fusion of trans people—trans men, trans women—in their scenes. I wanted to be on stage to present this, because I think it's going to be fucking mania up here. For the first ever Recognition of Inclusion award: Siouxsie Q and Michael Vegas and the whole team from The Bottom Floor: Second Coming."
Siouxsie Q summoned the entire cast to the stage, saying "thank you so much to Pig Machine, bringing together fucking amazing queer, trans bodies. All types. It was so amazing. I am so proud to be on stage with you. So honored."
After the backstage group interview and pictures, Coco Lovelock told AVN, "It was so good to win. It was so cool on set, we were just, 'Hell yeah, let's do it.'"
Best Non-TS Female Performer went to Little Puck, who said, "I wouldn’t be up here if it weren’t for the gorgeous, brilliant trans women I get to fuck. Thank you for fucking me. Thank you to Zariah Aura for being a brilliant, creative light. And thank you to Siouxsie Q and Michael Vegas and Ricky Greenwood and the others for giving me the opportunity to fuck. My first fuck ever was trans, my wife was trans, you all have been with me in my community, more than my birth family could ever be. It means a lot to be up here." Best Non-TS Male Performer went to Derek Kage, who said he would "try not to be emotional" before thanking his agent, publicist, and "every studio, every director, every performer who has worked with me. This award means a lot. You all have accepted me into this industry and the trans community, and this means so fucking much to me. We live in a world right now where being yourself, being who you are, is dangerous. Any person that judges you, I love every single one of you for putting your middle fingers up to them. I love every single one of you for being yourself and for accepting me. Thank you. Thank you so much."
Best Trans Masc Performer went to Nicky Zeal, who struck a triumphant pose, holding the award high, before exclaiming "Holy shit!" and continuing "I didn’t expect this because I have so many incredible brothers who deserve to win just as much. They put their boy pussies on the line day in and day out so they can show everybody how beautiful we are.... I didn’t have a trans male community with me before. I was able to move to L.A. and I was able to fit into that community. I was able to build that with my brothers and my sisters. Thank you so much to my brothers, thank you so much to my sisters. Thank you so much [producers and directors] for showing boy pussy because we are men. I love you all so fucking much. I wouldn’t be here without you."
Best Hardcore Performer went to Kasey Kei, who reflected, "I shot my first scene with Grooby back in 2018." She thanked her publicist—"Get some good PR, bitches"—and thanked Grooby for "having a platform for new girls who come in. This award is for all the trans women and men who came before us. They paved the way so we could all be here today. Period. Thank you so much."
The show ended at 1:45, when Presley asked for a round of applause for the "show's presenting sponsor, Clips4Sale, thank you to Grooby for hosting the show, and the staff, and volunteers. And don’t forget to tip your bartenders. They work very, very, very hard for all of you.
"I'm your fucking host, Domino goddam Presley. Trans lives matter. Trans rights are human rights. And being trans is political, so speak the fuck up. Good night."
For the full list of winners, click here.
For photo galleries, click here.
Photography by Rick Garcia/@IndustrybyRick
