Taylor Swift shows solidarity with LGBTQIA+ during Chicago concert and slams ‘harmful legislation’

Taylor Swift expressed solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community at the Chicago, Illinois stop of her Eras Tour.

The 33-year-old – who stepped out in New York City this week – took a moment to speak directly to the crowd and make a statement about politics with Pride Month in mind.

Wearing a sleeveless orange dress and seated at her piano, the hitmaker said, ‘I’m looking out tonight, I’m seeing so many incredible individuals who are living authentically and beautifully, and this is a safe space.’

She emphasized, ‘This is a celebratory space for you. One of the things that makes me feel so prideful is getting to be with you and watching you interact with each other, being so loving and so thoughtful and so caring.’

The heartfelt moment was captured by a fan who shared a two-minute snippet to Twitter. 

Speaking up: Taylor Swift expressed solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community at the Chicago, Illinois stop of her Eras Tour

Allyship: The 33-year-old took a moment to speak directly to the crowd and make a statement about politics with Pride Month in mind

Allyship: The 33-year-old took a moment to speak directly to the crowd and make a statement about politics with Pride Month in mind

Swift continued, ‘Being with you during Pride Month, getting to sing the words to You Need To Calm Down where there are lyrics like, ‘Can you just not step on his gown?’ or, ‘Shade never made anybody less gay,’ and you guys are screaming those lyrics. 

‘Such solidarity. Such support of one another and such encouraging, beautiful acceptance and peace and safety. And I wish that every place was safe and beautiful for people of the LGBTQ+ community.’

Taylor addressed the current state of politics as she added, ‘We can’t talk about Pride without talking about pain. 

‘Right now and recently there have been so many harmful pieces of legislation that have put people in the LGBTQ+ and queer community at risk It’s painful for everyone. Every ally. Every loved one. Every person in these communities.’

She noted, ‘And that’s why I’m always posting, ‘This is when the midterms are. This is when these important key primaries are.”

She encouraged her fans to ask themselves about certain politicians, ‘Are they actually advocates? Are they allies? Are they protectors of equality? Do I want to vote for them?’

The fan account @swifferwins captioned the tweet: ‘happy pride month. it’s a great day to be a lesbian who got engaged at a taylor swift concert in nashville!! #ChicagoTSTheErasTour.’

Taylor has not always lended her voice to the political space, but she has become more vocal in recent years. 

Her words: The hitmaker said, 'I’m looking out tonight, I’m seeing so many incredible individuals who are living authentically and beautifully, and this is a safe space'

Her words: The hitmaker said, ‘I’m looking out tonight, I’m seeing so many incredible individuals who are living authentically and beautifully, and this is a safe space’

Meaningful: Swift expressed, 'One of the things that makes me feel so prideful is getting to be with you and watching you interact with each other, being so loving and so thoughtful and so caring'

Meaningful: Swift expressed, ‘One of the things that makes me feel so prideful is getting to be with you and watching you interact with each other, being so loving and so thoughtful and so caring’

Her look: The music sensation donned a sparkling bodysuit with multicolor jewel embellishments and sequins

Her look: The music sensation donned a sparkling bodysuit with multicolor jewel embellishments and sequins

In March 2018, the Lover singer shared an image of the March for Our Lives logo – a student-led gun control demonstration – on social media following the shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida that resulted in 17 deaths.

‘No one should have to go to school in fear of gun violence. Or to a nightclub. Or to a concert. Or to a movie theater. Or to their place of worship,’ Swift captioned the post.

She then revealed that she’d ‘made a donation to show my support for the students, for the March For Our Lives campaign, for everyone affected by these tragedies, and to support gun reform.’

The star said at the time, ‘I’m so moved by the Parkland High School students, faculty, by all families and friends of victims who have spoken out, trying to prevent this from happening again.’

Taylor had previously been accused of taking an apolitical stance on controversial issues.

In her 2020 Netflix documentary Miss Americana, the singer-songwriter confronted her past tendency to stay quiet.

‘Every time I didn’t speak up about politics as a young person, I was applauded for it,’ she reflected. ‘It was wild. I said, ‘I’m a 22-year-old girl — people don’t want to hear what I have to say about politics.’ And people would just be like, ‘Yeahhhhh!”

She later explained, ‘Using my voice to try to advocate was the only choice to make. Because I’ve talked about equality and sung about it in songs like Welcome to New York, but we are at a point where human rights are being violated. 

‘When you’re saying that certain people can be kicked out of a restaurant because of who they love or how they identify, and these are actual policies that certain politicians vocally stand behind, and they disguise them as family values, that is sinister. So, so dark.’

Uplifting: Swift continued, 'Being with you during Pride Month, getting to sing the words to You Need To Calm Down where there are lyrics like, "Can you just not step on his gown?" or, "Shade never made anybody less gay," and you guys are screaming those lyrics... such solidarity'

Uplifting: Swift continued, ‘Being with you during Pride Month, getting to sing the words to You Need To Calm Down where there are lyrics like, ‘Can you just not step on his gown?’ or, ‘Shade never made anybody less gay,’ and you guys are screaming those lyrics… such solidarity’

Elaborate show: Taylor hit the stage to perform at Soldier Field on Friday, June 02, 2023

Elaborate show: Taylor hit the stage to perform at Soldier Field on Friday, June 02, 2023

Swift took to social media on Friday to announce eight tour dates for Latin America to kick off the international leg of her production.

The Grammy-winning star promised ‘LOTS more’ international dates to be added ‘soon.’

In the caption of the post, the Blank Space singer revealed she will also be making stops in Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil between August and November.

She announced Sabrina Carpenter as her opening act as she added, ‘Sweet angel princess @sabrinacarpenter will be joining us on all of the shows!’

Swift then concluded, ‘Visit taylorswift.com/tour for more information on your registrations, pre-sales and on-sales,’ and teased, ‘LOTS more international dates to come soon, promise!’



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