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Late Sunday evening, Taylor Swift broke her career-long political silence. In an impassioned and heartfelt Instagram post, she endorsed Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper, two Tennessee Democrats running for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, respectively. 

Swift also criticized Bresden’s Republican opponent, Marsha Blackburn, for her harrowing voting record that has repeatedly discriminated against women and the LGBTQ community. “Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me,” Swift wrote. 

Swift’s silence on political issues has, in part, defined her career. She has repeatedly said she does not believe celebrities or artists should be obligated to share their political opinions, in an effort to prevent politics from becoming pop culture fodder. But times have changed, and Swift has finally acknowledged this transformation.

“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,” Swift wrote.  

Sunday’s statement is a breathtaking and momentous reversal for Swift. It’s validation for Swift’s fans, many of whom are people of color and LGBTQ+, two of the communities for which Swift directly advocated:  

“I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG," she wrote. "I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of color is terrifying, sickening and prevalent."

Swift’s reversal also reflects the incredible urgency of this political moment. Swift is joining the overwhelming chorus of Americans displeased with the direction our democracy is headed. We need intervention. We need change. We need to vote. We can no longer afford to be silent, and Taylor Swift’s sudden political action is a model to us all. It is never too late to discover your political voice. We must continue to encourage people to speak up and break the toxic silence that had led our country to its current state of polarizing chaos. 

This political disorder was on full display this past weekend with the confirmation of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Swift’s statement came one day after Kavanaugh, a man accused of sexual assault by three women, was confirmed. Swift herself is a survivor of sexual assault. In 2017, Swift was sued by her assailant, a former DJ in Colorado who claimed the accusation that he groped her during a meet and greet ended his career. Not only did Swift endure the trauma of being sexually assaulted, but she also endured the painful reality of living in a country where her assailant could sue her. Fortunately, Swift counter-sued for a symbolic $1 and won her case. However, as this past week has made us keenly aware, not all women are as fortunate as Taylor Swift.

Swift recognizes her good fortune and she is seeking to share it. Her Instagram post is a step toward this goal. We are hopeful Swift discovering her political voice will help galvanize the millions of young people who admire her artistry and character. Taylor Swift has now spoken, and come November 6, it will be our turn to “Speak Now.”


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I'm writing this post about the upcoming midterm elections on November 6th, in which I'll be voting in the state of Tennessee. 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. 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. 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. Running for Senate in the state of Tennessee is a woman named Marsha Blackburn. As much as I have in the past and would like to continue voting for women in office, I cannot support Marsha Blackburn. Her voting record in Congress appalls and terrifies me. She voted against equal pay for women. She voted against the Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which attempts to protect women from domestic violence, stalking, and date rape. She believes businesses have a right to refuse service to gay couples. She also believes they should not have the right to marry. These are not MY Tennessee values. I will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives. Please, please educate yourself on the candidates running in your state and vote based on who most closely represents your values. For a lot of us, we may never find a candidate or party with whom we agree 100% on every issue, but we have to vote anyway. So many intelligent, thoughtful, self-possessed people have turned 18 in the past two years and now have the right and privilege to make their vote count. But first you need to register, which is quick and easy to do. October 9th is the LAST DAY to register to vote in the state of TN. Go to vote.org and you can find all the info. Happy Voting!

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