Taylor Swift performing on her Reputation stadium tour (Photo: Wikipedia)
Taylor Swift delivered a passionate speech in defense of same-sex love at the Chicago stop of her Reputation tour.
Standing onstage in a rainbow dress at Soldier Field on Saturday June 2, Swift introduced her recent single Delicate by championing the need to celebrate Pride month.
‘It’s very brave to be vulnerable about your feelings in any situation, but it’s even more brave to be honest about your feelings and who you love when you know that it might be met with adversity from society,’ the 28 year-old singer began.
‘This month and every month I want to send my love and respect to everybody who has been brave enough to be honest about how they feel, to live their lives as they are, as they feel they should be, as they identify. This is a month where I think we need to celebrate how far we’ve come, but I think we also need to acknowledge how far we have left to go.’
Swift continued by encouraging her gay fans to have the courage to come out of the closet.
‘I want to send my love and respect to everybody who hasn’t felt comfortable enough to come out yet… and may you do that on your own time and may we end up with a world where everyone can live and love equally and no one has to be afraid to say how they feel.
‘When it comes to feelings and when it comes to love and searching for someone to spend your whole life with… it’s all just really, really delicate.’
Fans took to social media to express their gratitude to Swift, who boasts a sizeable LGBTI fanbase.
I really want to thank @taylorswift13 for the speech she gave during her 2nd night in Chicago. It really helped me gain courage to acknowledge my feelings and come out to my Dad. I’m grateful for this.❤️🌈💯🏳️🌈#Pride pic.twitter.com/zDZo0jm6Us
— ᏰᏋᏋ🌈 (@reputationswxft) June 4, 2018
This is actually so sweet and so acknowledging rather than just a “pride month 🌈” tweet. She acknowledges the pride as well as the struggle and how far we still are. UGH THANK YOU @taylorswift13 IT MEANS THE WORLD #TaylorSwift https://t.co/0wYje4sA2P
— Hiromi13 (Houston: Sec 103, row k, seat 20 & 21) (@idratherswift) June 3, 2018
.@taylorswift13 had a speech tonight in Chicago about pride month that damn near made me cry.
Look it up.
Proud.
— David Cook (@davidcookmusic) June 3, 2018
taylor swift giving a pride speech in front of her mainly conservative audience? props.
— abby (@theagustdream) June 3, 2018
I loved everything about #RepTourChiacgo but the best part was @taylorswift13 giving a pride speech while wearing a rainbow dress ❤️❤️❤️ #reputation #ReturnOfTheQueen
— Becky Winters (@its_b_dubs31) June 3, 2018
The singer’s current tour, in support of her latest studio album Reputation, is set to hit the UK and Ireland on June 8, taking in six dates across Manchester, Dublin and London. Swift is supported by Camilla Cabello and the UK’s own Charli XCX.
Watch Swift’s full Pride speech below:
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