Taylor Swift has issued a statement about her political views ahead of the US midterm elections, after steering clear of the political sphere for years.
Swift, who has been criticised by some fans for not publicly denouncing US President Donald Trump or engaging in political debate, has shared a lengthy statement on Instagram outlining how she intends to vote in the midterms on 6th November.
“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,” she 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.”
Swift said she won’t 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”, calling out Republican Marsha Blackburn in the process.
“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,” Swift wrote.
“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.”
Swift said she will be voting for Phil Bredesen for Senate and Jim Cooper for House of Representatives, and urged fans to enrol to vote and educate themselves on the candidates running in their respective states.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
Read her statement in full, below.
Swift is scheduled to tour Australia between October and November, behind her latest album Reputation.
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