Avengers actor Don Cheadle showed solidarity with trans youth while hosting Saturday Night Live on February 16, according to PinkNews.
In a segment toward the end of the show, Cheadle introduced musical guest Gary Clark Jr. while wearing a t-shirt with the words “protect trans kids” written across the chest.
While Cheadle’s message wasn’t referenced in his words, social media blew up by those who were moved by the gesture.
https://twitter.com/MrDane1982/status/1097162911699689472
#ProtectTransKids, a reminder from the hero himself @DonCheadle https://t.co/0Ka15pITBw
— Janet Mock (@janetmock) February 17, 2019
As the parent of a transgender person, I was grateful and gratified to see @DonCheadle make a short-sleeved statement on last night’s @nbcsnl. Thank you. pic.twitter.com/NhmZqntNSU
— Jimmy Mack (@mistermarriage) February 17, 2019
Cheadle closed the show sporting another political fashion statement– a Soviet Union hockey jersey with Trump’s name and the number 45 on the back, a nod to ongoing collusion accusations.
Trump responded to the episode, which featured Alec Baldwin reprising his role as Trump, on Twitter. He said the show was “tired” and there was “nothing funny about” it.
Nothing funny about tired Saturday Night Live on Fake News NBC! Question is, how do the Networks get away with these total Republican hit jobs without retribution? Likewise for many other shows? Very unfair and should be looked into. This is the real Collusion!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 17, 2019
The Trump administration has attacked transgender youth numerous times. In 2017, education secretary Betsy DeVos rescinded Obama-era guidance on protecting trans children, and in 2018 the Department of Education confirmed it would no longer investigate discrimination complaints from trans students who were banned from using gender-congruent bathrooms.