Sabrina Carpenter used her network TV platform to advocate for transgender rights during the 2025 MTV Video Music Awards.Carpenter took the stage at the USB Arena in Elmont, New York, Sunday night to perform her latest single, Tears, alongside a team of back-up dancers that included, according to Out, RuPauls Drag Race alums Denali, Willam, Symone, Laganja Estranja, and Lexi Love, as well as Legendary host Dashaun Wesley and contestant Honey Balenciaga. Related Chappell Roan dominated the VMAs. Here are her 5 top moments. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today At one point during the performance, the Espresso singer entered a phone booth, ceding the stage to the queens who held up picket signs with slogans including In Trans We Trust, Protect Trans Rights, Support Local Drag, and Dolls Dolls Dolls.As USA Today notes, the inclusion of the drag superstars may have been a nod to the Rocky Horror inspired Tears video, which featured out two-time Academy Award nominee Colman Domingo performing alongside Carpenter in drag. Released late last month, Tears is the second single from Carpenters latest album Mans Best Friend. The album debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 chart over the weekend, scoring the singer her second No. 1 album.At the VMAs, Carpenter also won the award for Best Album for her breakthrough 2024 album Short n Sweet. During her acceptance speech, the pop star gave a special shout-out to the queens who performed with her.This world, as we all know, can be so full of criticism and discrimination and negativity, she said. So, to get to be part of something that can bring you light, make you smile, make you dance Im so grateful. So grateful to do that. As Out notes, this year marked the first time the VMAs were simulcast live on CBS as well as MTV, bringing Carpenters trans rights message to a wider, network TV audience.Carpenter wasnt the only pop star to shout out the LGBTQ+ community at the awards show. While accepting the award for Best Pop for her longform video Brighter Days Ahead which she co-directed Wicked star Ariana Grande thanked her therapists and gay people. Other queer VMA highlights included long-time LGBTQ+ advocate Lady Gaga winning the Artist of the Year award before dashing back to Madison Square Garden for the last of her six dates at the venue the opening number of which was included later in the telecast and out pop star Ricky Martin receiving the Latin Icon Award and performing his biggest hits.Singer Conan Gray, meanwhile, arrived on the VMAs red carpet with out actor Corey Fogelmanis, who has played his love interest in videos for his songs Caramel and Vodka Cranberry. The pair later appeared onstage together in Grays gay Romeo and Juliet-inspired performance of Vodka Cranberry, potentially continuing to fuel speculation that they are dating though Fogelmanis shot down those rumors in a recent interview with Teen Vogue. Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.