Last night, Kim Petras made history when she and Sam Smith won the best duo/group collaboration award for their song Unholy. The 30-year-old singer made an eloquent speech in which she thanked those who have “kicked the doors open” for musicians like her, including Wendy Carlos, the first transgender person to receive a Grammy for her synth album Switched-On Bach in 1970.

I’ve been hearing for years that I’m a niche artist because I’m transgender, and that my music would only ever be played in gay clubs. What’s wrong with that? I love gay clubs. But now I’ve won a Grammy for co-writing homosexual club music. Petras remarked after winning. It truly is the greatest feeling in the world.

The win is partly overshadowed by the quick response, whether it be transphobic online trolling or the destructive Google searches revealed by Google Trends. It should be a wonderful, uplifting moment then, and it most certainly is. Kim Petras as a boy, “Kim Petras guy,” and “Kim Petras prior” were some of the top search terms just after her victory, according to the analytics platform. Even the phrase “Kim Petras as a youngster” is popular, a not-so-subtle attempt by the anti-transgender public to find images of Petras before her transition.

Kim petras thanked Sophie during her Grammy acceptance speech I’m actually crying pic.twitter.com/Apu3wMvknA

— 𝒞. (@Celebirteas) February 6, 2023

These searches are telling because of what they reveal about people’s attitudes toward transgender individuals, especially during occasions that ought to be pure joy. To look for such images suggests a desire to harm the trans community because we know it is harmful to share images of trans people before they transition, that they are frequently used to delegitimize and demonize trans people, and that they are typically shared with the intention of upsetting or traumatizing someone. It’s obvious that, despite Petras setting records, society is far from celebrating trans joy when you combine it with the flagrant transphobia on Twitter in the wake of her victory.

@curlycurlmedia

So, keep in mind the harm that can result from interacting with or disseminating such photographs if you come across them or decide to look for them yourself out of curiosity. Let’s not let transphobia taint Kim Petras’ victory; instead, let it be about her tremendous talent. #kimpetras #music #clarity #arianagrande #kimpetrasfans #gay #taylorswift #kimpetrasedit #katyperry #ladygaga #wooah #charlixcx #art #popmusic #turnoffthelights #beyonce #pop #newmusic #lgbt #halloween #kimpetrasstyle #kimpetrasclarity #popprincess #kimpetrasbroken #l #kimpetrascloset #kimpetrasvinyl #curlycurlmedia #curlycurlfactory #curlycurlfashionsociety

♬ Unholy (Cover) – Cinakeyboard

So, keep in mind the harm that can result from interacting with or disseminating such photographs if you come across them or decide to look for them yourself out of curiosity. Let’s not let transphobia taint Kim Petras’ victory; instead, let it be about her tremendous talent.