Demi Lovato lashed out at the anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) law at the Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (22.05.16).
The 23-year-old singer – who has been dating Wilmer Valderrama since 2010 – used her performance at the glamorous event to silently stand up against North Carolina after it passed a rule two months ago that forces people to use the public bathroom of the gender listed on their birth certificate.
The brunette beauty took to the stage to belt out the lyrics to her track ‘Cool For the Summer’ – which previously sparked speculation about her own sexuality because of its suggestive lyrics about experimentation, which she said she would "neither confirm nor deny" – but set tongues wagging by choosing to wear a sequinned dress emblazoned with a gender-inclusive bathroom symbol.
And this isn’t the first time Demi has taken action against the American state’s anti-LGBT "bathroom law", as she and Nick Jonas decided to axe their shows in Raleigh and Charlotte on their ‘Future Now’ tour last month in protest over the Public Facilities Privacy and Security Act.
Demi and Nick both shared a message on their Instagram pages at the time which read: "After much thought and deliberation, we have decided to cancel our shows in Raleigh and Charlotte. One of our goals for the Honda Civic Tour: Future Now has always been to create an atmosphere where every single attendee feels equal, included, and accepted for who they are.
"North Carolina’s discriminatory HB2 law is extremely disappointing, and it takes away some of the LGBT community’s most basic rights and protections. But we will not allow this to stop us from continuing to make progress for equality and acceptance.
"We know the cancellation of these shows is disappointing to our fans, but we trust that you will stand united with us against this hateful law. Demi and Nick. #RepealHB2 (sic)."
Demi and Nick follow in the footsteps of Pearl Jam, Bruce Springsteen, Boston, Ani DiFranco, the Cirque do Soleil and Ringo Starr, who also opted out of playing concerts in the state to make a stand against the newly-instated law.
Demi Lovato lashes out at anti-LGBT law at Billboard Music Awards
