An 11-year-old gender fluid actor has been deemed eligible for awards in male and female categories in Canada’s Leo Awards.

Ameko Eks Mass Carroll entered the awards for their role in Limina, a short film that follows a gender-fluid child on a journey to kindness.

Ameko issued a thank you for being considered in the categories, and described it as another step to feeling welcomed.

“A ginormous thanks for making people under the trans umbrella feel more welcomed in the world,” Carroll said.

Chair of the Motion Picture Arts & Sciences Foundation of British Columbia and President of the Leo Awards, Walter Daroshin said: “We are proud to join our colleagues at the Academy in recognising the importance of inclusivity when honouring artistic excellence,”

Limina was co-directed and produced by Joshua M. Ferguson, a non-binary trans person. They described the Leo nomination as an important, yet powerful movement towards a more accepting and diverse future in entertainment.

“Hopefully this decision will open up the important conversation at union levels, other awards, organisations and granting agencies across the country to strive for inclusivity in the industry when it comes to trans people and diversity,” Joshua said.

The nomination comes after gender fluid actor Kelly Mantle was nominated for ‘best male’ and ‘best female’ academy awards.

Best known for appearing on the sixth season of RuPaul’s Drag Race, Kelly Mantle is making a splash this year with a role in comedy Confessions of a Womanizer.

The film has put forward Mantle for consideration at the Oscars, and in a first, they’re up for both of the gender-segregated supporting role categories.