Taylor Swift Speaks Out About Politics For The First Time

Taylor Swift has broken her political silence for the first time, voicing her support of two Democrats in the forthcoming US mid-term elections.

The pop star said the past two years have taught her the importance of sharing her political views publicly. In a lengthy Instagram post, she also showed solidarity with the LGBTQ community and talked against the "systemic racism" experienced by ethnic minorities in the US. Her values, she said, meant that she could not vote for Republican candidate for the Senate Marsha Blackburn, who was endorsed by Donald Trump last week. Instead, she backed Democrats Phil Bredesen and Jim Cooper.

“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.

“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.”

Swift had previously been criticised for being one of the few US pop stars not to have voiced their dissent for Trump, in the 2016 election nor since. However, she has spoken out about political issues such as feminism, becoming an active campaigner for the #MeToo movement having had her own experience of sexual harassment in 2013. In March, she showed public support for the March For Our Lives campaign, which aims to end gun violence.

This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR UK.

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