LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Kristel Penn, the longtime Creative and Editorial Director for leading trans studio Grooby, received XBIZ Exec “Heart of Gold” Award at the 2026 XBIZ Honors event, where Penn was also nominated for “Community Figure of the Year.”
“I think it’s wonderful how XBIZ has expanded their Exec Awards to include new categories like these,” Penn said. “My belief has been that my responsibility is to the community I serve, first and foremost, and using that as my internal compass of how I operate in the industry. I do my best to be sincere and accountable in the work I do and try to be as generous with my resources as the community has always been with me.
“My grandma used to tell me to ‘do good, be good,’ and I always try to walk through the world with that in mind,” Penn added. “Thank you to XBIZ for this recognition. This milestone represents a moment in my career where I feel like I’ve been able to authentically practice what has been passed down to me since.”
In addition to serving as Grooby’s Creative and Editorial Director, Penn is also the Executive Producer of the annual Trans Erotica Awards. Penn has also teamed up with trans adult performer Domino Presley to create the Jazmin Shibata Scholarship, which gives California-based trans sex workers the ability to receive individual therapy or letters of support at no/low-cost from Penn who is also a therapist (CA AMFT #139294). Services are covered in cost by Presley as a means of giving back to the community. For more information, go to SadButRadTherapy.com.
Founded in 1996, Grooby is widely recognized as the adult industry’s leading producer of trans erotica. As noted in Penn’s announcement, Grooby “has built a global reputation for its commitment to diversity, authenticity, and ethical production practices, centering trans performers and pushing the industry toward greater representation.”
Grooby’s catalog now spans 30 unique websites, multiple DVD lines and digital streaming platforms, offering fans a broad selection of content featuring both “rising stars and established trans performers.”
Grooby also hosts the annual Transgender Erotica Awards (TEAs), an industry-wide celebration spotlighting trans excellence in adult entertainment. The 2026 TEAs are set for March 8 at the Avalon theater in Hollywood, with the official pre-party slated for March 6 at the Bardot, the Avalon’s connecting property.
For more information on Grooby, go to Grooby.com and follow them on X @groobydotcom. For more information on the 2026 TEAs, go to TheTEAShow.com.
