Demi Lovato announced with GLAAD that she is bringing a special guest with her to tonight’s American Music Awards red carpet! The singer, songwriter, and actress will be joined by Danica Roem, who earlier this month was elected Virginia’s first transgender state legislator. Roem was elected for her commitment to local Virginia issues and will be speaking out about local issues on the AMAs red carpet, one of the largest media platforms in the world. GLAAD and the LGBTQ Victory Fund connected Lovato with Roem this weekend in advance of the AMAs.
Roem joined Lovato as part of the Together movement, GLAAD's campaign calling on all marginalized communities to stand together, represented by the ampersand pin. The two will be speaking out on the red carpet about LGBTQ equality and calling for Americans to stand united against discrimination. During the AMAs, Lovato will perform "Sorry Not Sorry," the lead single off of her recent album Tell Me You Love Me. Her documentary “Demi Lovato: Simply Complicated” premiered last month on YouTube.
“Demi Lovato and Danica Roem are two strong and inspirational women who embody the need for all Americans to stand together united and to take action today against any form of discrimination and oppression,” said GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis. “Danica Roem is a trailblazer whose win in Virginia showcased both how young people and marginalized communities can impact voting results and how every American deserves an opportunity to work hard and achieve their dreams. Demi Lovato continues her legacy of raising the bar for entertaining audiences around the world and for spotlighting social issues that need the most attention.”
Lovato has been a staunch supporter for young people and the LGBTQ community throughout her career. Last year she was honored with GLAAD’s Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards. She also protested North Carolina’s anti-trans HB-2, which would endanger transgender people by forcing them to use restrooms that did not match their gender identity. Having previously participated in LGBTQ pride celebrations in Los Angeles and New York, her music video for "Really Don't Care,” the platinum single from her fourth album, was also filmed at L.A. Pride and included strong messages of acceptance for LGBTQ people. In 2013, Lovato brought to life a lesbian character on FOX's hit show Glee, and noted she hoped to “inspire people with my character to love who they are and accept who they are.” She participated as an ambassador for GLAAD's annual anti-bullying campaign, Spirit Day, wearing purple to show her support for LGBTQ youth.
In Virginia, Danica Roem became the state’s first out transgender legislator, joining a wave of LGBTQ winners in elections across the country earlier this month. She was the winner of the Virginia House of Delegates District 13 election. Roem claimed this historic, groundbreaking victory against anti-LGBTQ candidate Bob Marshall who earlier this year presented the Physical Privacy Act, a bill that would have restricted transgender people in Virginia from using bathrooms of the gender with which they identify. On the campaign trail, Marshall repeatedly misgendered Roem and continued to spew anti-LGBTQ rhetoric, but Roem remained focused on her local campaign issues. In a statement, Sarah Kate Ellis denounced the misgendering of Roem, calling it "inhumane and flat out un-American." But Roem won out thanks to fair-minded voters in Virginia and her sharp focus and deep passion for local issues.
You can check out the American Music Awards live tonight on ABC at 8/7c, hosted by Tracee Ellis Ross. And watch @GLAAD on Instagram for some special footage of Demi and Danica plus shout outs from Brad Goreski, who has taken over GLAAD's Instagram for the event!
