American Sign Language Was Interpreted Into British at the BAFTAs

Troy Kostur, who made history as the first deaf actor to win a BAFTA for Coda, recently returned to London and had the honor of presenting the Best Supporting Actress award. The moment was highly regarded by Sign Language users, who witnessed Kerry Condon receive the BAFTA for The Banshees of Inisherin.

Sign Language and the BAFTAs

Troy Kostur and his on-stage British Sign Language interpreter

One person who appreciated the gesture was Emma Samms, who is the founder of the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which supports children with disabilities and illnesses. She wrote that she was watching the BAFTAs and loving that they had American Sign Language and British Sign Language.

During his appearance, Troy Kostur cracked a few jokes, gesturing to the microphone and signing, “Why is this microphone here? I don’t need it.” He also joked about the disparities between British and American sign language, cautioning the audience that he had to be careful when signing the number two in England. Throughout his speech, Kostur expressed gratitude to BAFTA, acknowledging that winning the award last year was one of the most remarkable moments in his career, and extended his best wishes to the nominees. His BSL translator provided support throughout the entire speech.

Troy Kostur Presented an Award

Troy Kostur: American Sign Language Was Interpreted Into British at the BAFTAs

Though it was seen as a major breakthrough, there were concerns raised by some people about the inclusivity of the ceremony towards individuals with hearing impairments. In a Twitter post, a user criticized the organizers for not doing enough to include deaf individuals, saying that sign language interpretation should be available throughout the entire event, not just when a deaf actor is on stage. The user expressed disappointment that an interpreter was only present when a deaf presenter was on stage and argued that this was not enough to promote inclusivity and normalize Sign Language.

According to some, interpreters should be a regular part of the BAFTAs to ensure that individuals with hearing impairments can fully participate and enjoy the ceremony. It certainly would be a good step towards promoting accessibility and inclusivity if Sign Language interpretation were provided throughout the ceremony.