Demi Lovato’s date for the AMAs was Virginia’s first trans legislator Danica Roem

This Sunday evening, singer Demi Lovato arrived on the American Music Awards red carpet with a special date: the first openly transgender person to serve in the Virginia state legislature, Danica Roem.

“We connected because I heard her story—and when I heard [it] I was just completely inspired by it,” Lovato told E! in a red carpet interview. “My story with ‘Sorry Not Sorry’ is about bullying, and I wanted to have her in the audience with me tonight because I feel like we’ve been through some of the same things and now we get to share this experience together.”

Roem couldn’t have agreed more.

“I’m really grateful that Demi has spent her career advocating for people who need a voice when they feel voiceless and that she really understands that no matter what you look like, who you worship, or you love, you should be welcomed and celebrated because of who you are, not despite it,” Roem said.

Watch the pair’s full interview below:

Featured image via screen grab

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.