As the 2019 Emmy Awards kick off in the US, a number of LGBTIQ+ actors have hit the red carpet - serving up looks and political messages in spades.
Hoping to become the first openly transgender actress to win an Emmy (she's nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series), Laverne Cox used her red carpet entrance to highlight two Title VII sexual orientation discrimination cases set to be seen by the Supreme Court on October 8.
The case will determine whether Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, applies to cases based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
"It's an incredible blessing when I got my Emmy nomination this year, my third, I was like this is weird. I thought there has to be a bigger reason. I thought maybe it's about this case," Cox told.
"Maybe it's about raising awareness so everyone knows that our lives are in danger."
She added: "A lot of people aren't talking about this case and it has implications for the LGBTIQ+ community. But it has implication for women and anyone who doesn't conform to someone else's idea of how you should be... A man or woman or neither!"
To bring attention to the cause, Cox carried a custom-made rainbow clutch with 'Title VII, October 8, Supreme Court' embellished in bold lettering.
Pose star Indya Moore also made quite a statement, hitting the red carpet in a custom-made Louis Vuitton gown. The actor and activist got social-media users talking after they remarked during an interview that it was "trickier" for her to exist than it was to walk in their fabulous gown.
The comment appeared to go over the interviewer's head.
The star also used their red carpet interviews to reach out to LGBTIQ+ youth, telling them: "You're not alone. Don't be scared. Believe in yourself before anyone else does. The value of your life cannot be measured by any opinion of other people. I see you. We are you. You will survive"
While Moore didn't receive any nominations this year, FX series Pose has been nominated for Outstanding Drama - with co-star Billy Porter hoping to take home the award for Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Meanwhile, Billy Porter is hoping to take home his first Emmy award, living up to his reputation for stunning red carpet looks by rocking a Michael Kors suit with over 130,000 crystals and $55,000 worth of diamonds.
Other red carpet highlights included RuPaul, in a pink and black floral suit, and Pose stars MJ Rodriguez, in custom Jason Wu, and Dominique Jackson, who is wearing custom Jeffrey Dodd.
