Doubt and Orange is the New Black actress Laverne Cox used her moment at the Grammys to draw attention to the transgender rights case that is on its way to the Supreme Court.
“Please Google Gavin Grimm. He’s going to the Supreme Court in March. #StandWithGavin,” said Cox, before introducing Lady Gaga and Metallica.
RELATED: ACLU Video Spotlights Gavin Grimm, the Transgender Teen Headed to SCOTUS : WATCH
Grimm is the 17-year-old student in a legal battle with his local Virginia school district over permission to use the boys’ room in accordance with his gender identity.
Cox also recognized “gender non-binary” viewers in her address.
a powerful #GRAMMYs call to action by @Lavernecox for @GrimmGavinE #StandWithGavin pic.twitter.com/AFXn82tPDe
— Challenger (@bakedinapie) February 13, 2017
Grimm had no idea Cox was going to call him out, the Washington Post reports:
Grimm, now 17 and a high school senior, said Sunday night that he had no idea Cox was going to mention his name and was not watching the Grammys. But his mother Deirdre was in another room, and Grimm found out only when she “started shrieking.”
“I was just so thrilled because I love her. She’s just a beautiful person inside and out,” Grimm said. “I was really touched and thrilled and honored that that was the first thing out of her mouth.”
Grimm, once painfully shy, has become the unlikely standard-bearer for transgender student rights.
“At this point, that’s the role I occupy and I want to make sure I’m using that platform for positive,” Grimm said. “I definitely didn’t set out at the beginning wanting to or expecting to shouted on the Grammys.”
