Billy Porter makes statement about abortion rights with Tony Awards outfit

The actor wore a suit-gown combination featuring a uterus motif

Billy Porter made a powerful statement about women’s rights with his outfit at the 73rd annual Tony Awards.

The actor donned a red-and-pink tulle gown-suit combo designed by New York label Celestino Couture.

Porter revealed the floral pattern on the train of the “gender-fluid evening suit” was meant to portray female reproductive organs in a pro-choice statement about women’s abortion rights, he said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

Porter said: “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. 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!”

In addition to advocating for abortion rights, Porter’s outfit, which was inspired by Elizabethan couture and features more than 30,000 Swarovski crystals, was also a nod to the actor’s own success – as the train of the gown was in part created from the curtain backdrop of the Broadway production of Kinky Boots.

In 2013, Porter won the 2013 Tony for best actor in a musical for his performance in Kinky Boots.

Billy Porter arrives at the 73rd annual Tony Awards (Getty)

The musical ended its run on Broadway in April after 2,507 performances.

Porter, whose been praised as a best-dressed attendee on various red carpets this year, including the Grammys and the Met Gala, said he wanted to “flip the question of what it means to be man” with his latest ensemble.

“This question of masculinity, this sort of microscope of heteronormative masculinity that we are very often held up to, especially as leading men, needs to be shattered,” Porter said in an interview with The New York Times. “You know, it’s toxic and I’m over it and I’ve lived it and I’m not doing it anymore.”