--- description: Billy Porter wore a show-stopping uterus outfit on the 2019 Tonys red carpet to make a statement about reproductive rights. title: Billy Porter Wore a Uterus Motif to the Tonys to Make a Statement image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt06ecaae363adadef/69894afb457a52570bd612ac/billy-porter-uterus-outfit-tonys-2019.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Newsfeed](/tag/time-section-newsfeed/) ## Newsfeed Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Billy Porter Wore a Uterus Motif to the Tony Awards to Make a Statement  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 10, 2019 3:33 PM CUT  NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Billy Porter attends the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 09, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 09: Billy Porter attends the 73rd Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall on June 09, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Sean Zanni/Patrick McMullan via Getty Images)Sean Zanni—Patrick McMullan via Getty Image  by [Cady Lang](/author/cady-lang/)  ## Cady Lang Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 10, 2019 3:33 PM CUT When it comes to red carpet fashion, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who can make an entrance like [the inimitable Billy Porter](https://time.com/5584341/billy-porter-met-gala-2019/ "undefined"), who in the past year alone, has shown up to the [2019 Oscars in an elegant tuxedo and ballgown skirt combo](https://time.com/5537621/billy-porter-dress-oscars-2019/ "undefined") and was [carried in on a golden litter, dressed as the Sun God, to the 2019 Met Gala](https://time.com/5584938/billy-porter-met-gala-2019-look-inspiration/ "undefined"). So perhaps it should come as no surprise that Porter chose to have another moment with a message when he showed up to the [2019 Tonys red carpet](https://time.com/5603667/2019-tony-awards/ "undefined"), attired in a show-stopping red velvet and pink tulle look with an embroidered uterus motif that he selected to support women’s reproductive rights amid [the current political upheaval about the issue.](https://time.com/5594895/democratic-primary-abortion/ "undefined") The dramatic look, a custom Celestino Couture gender-fluid evening suit, featured a sweeping train and 30,000 Swarovski crystals. The suit also held special meaning for Porter because it was made of an upcycled curtain backdrop from the Broadway production of _Kinky Boots_, which Porter won a Tony for best actor in 2013; the musical’s Broadway run ended this April after an impressive 2,507 shows. In an interview with [_The Hollywood Reporter_](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/billy-porter-2019-tony-awards-look-has-pro-choice-uterus-motif-1216756 "undefined"), Porter shared that his Elizabethan fashion-inspired red carpet look for the night was motivated by [current anti-abortion legislation.](http://time.com/5591166/state-abortion-laws-explained/ "undefined") “At the fitting, we spoke about making a pattern on the train that was in the shape of a uterus, but not obvious, of course. And I thought it was awesome because women’s rights are under attack right now,” Porter said. “I’m an advocate for all who are disenfranchised. None of us are free until we’re all free! I really want to make sure that I’m showing up for all of the disenfranchised people I can so that we can find power in our unity. This government is trying to take away the woman’s right to choose and that’s unacceptable. No!” See Porter’s red carpet look with a message below. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5603960/billy-porter-tonys-2019-red-carpet/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5603960/billy-porter-tonys-2019-red-carpet/"},"headline":"Billy Porter Wore a Uterus Motif to the Tony Awards to Make a Statement","datePublished":"2019-06-10T15:33:43.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:59:10.528Z","description":"The show-stopping look was a commentary on reproductive rights","url":"https://time.com/5603960/billy-porter-tonys-2019-red-carpet/","keywords":["Newsfeed","fashion","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt06ecaae363adadef/69894afb457a52570bd612ac/billy-porter-uterus-outfit-tonys-2019.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Cady Lang","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/cady-lang/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt06ecaae363adadef/69894afb457a52570bd612ac/billy-porter-uterus-outfit-tonys-2019.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"73rd Annual Tony Awards- Arrivals","caption":"73rd Annual Tony Awards- Arrivals","creditText":"Sean Zanni—Patrick McMullan via Getty Image","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5603960/billy-porter-tonys-2019-red-carpet/","name":"Billy Porter Wore a Uterus Motif to the Tony Awards to Make a Statement"}}]}] ```