Taylor Swift has broken her long self-imposed silence on all thing political with a call to end discrimination in all forms and a full throated endorsement of two Tennessee Democrats. Having a political opinion is not easy for any country musician, particularly if they lean anywhere left of center. And while Swift has moved from country music to pop, her Nashville roots run deep.
On Instagram Swift wrote:
“In the past I’ve been reluctant to publicly voice my political opinions, but due to several events in my life and in the world in the past two years, I feel very differently about that now.”
“I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country,” she wrote. “I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG. I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.”
Swift went on to endorse two Democrats running for office, Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representative, in her very Republican state.
“I cannot vote for someone who will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter their skin color, gender or who they love… These are my Tennessee values.”