The special meaning behind his red carpet look and more stars wearing it

Pedro Pascal is known for his incredible success in Hollywood following his involvement in fan-favorite franchises and roles in independent movies. The proud Latino is also known for his fashion choices on the red carpet, and for not being one to shy away from using his platform to advocate for causes close to his heart. 

The ‘Fantastic Four’ actor’s latest public statement comes in the form of a T-shirt worn on the red carpet at the UK premiere of Marvel’s ‘Thunderbolts.’ The shirt, which reads “Protect the Dolls,” is not just a fashion statement—it’s a voice of support for the trans community.

Pedro is not the only celebrity who has endorsed the “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt. The shirt has been spotted on a number of famous faces, including singer Troye Sivan, who wore it during his surprise appearance at Coachella, and media personality Addison Rae.

© Dave Benett

What ‘Protect the Dolls’ means:

“Protect the Dolls” is an affectionate term used within the LGBTQ+ community to refer to transgender women. The term, while lighthearted, carries a deeply important message: it calls for protection and support for trans women, who face vulnerabilities in society, particularly in the current political climate.

© Instagram/PedroPascal

The T-shirt was designed by American designer Conner Ives, who recently told The New York Times that the inspiration behind the shirt came from the troubling political attacks on the transgender community, particularly in the U.S. 

© Instagram/TroyeSivan

“It was very reactive. I knew I wanted to say something, given what we’ve observed in the last few months with the U.S. government and the current political regime,” Ives explained. “But we’re in very trying times right now—the world is changing in front of our very eyes and there was a helplessness that came with that. The girls who walk my show are trans, and I have so many friends that are trans women in the United States. It reached a point where I couldn’t really remove myself anymore.”

© Instagram

A personal cause for Pedro:

For Pascal, the T-shirt represents more than just a political statement—it’s a personal cause. The actor has long been an advocate for the trans community, especially after his sister, Lux Pascal, came out as trans in February 2021. 

© Neil Mockford

The actor has been vocal about his support as he has spoken out against harmful rhetoric, including calling out J.K. Rowling for her continued support of anti-trans views. 

A significant aspect of the campaign behind the “Protect the Dolls” tee is its dedication to supporting the trans community. A portion of the proceeds from the shirt is being donated to Trans Lifeline, a nonprofit organization that provides a crucial community and crisis hotline for transgender individuals in need of support and resources. 

© Instagram/Addison Rae

The organization is led by and serves transgender people, aiming to connect them with the help they need to thrive in a world that is often hostile toward them. Florence Pugh also praised Pedro and his support for the community during an interview with MTV UK.