Taylor Swift kicked off her weekend of Eras Tour shows by delivering a heartfelt message to the LGBTQ+ community.
During night one of her three-show stint at Chicago's Soldier Field Friday night, Swift, 33, commemorated the start of Pride Month by reassuring fans that her shows are a “safe space." She applauded people for “loving who they want to love,” and “identifying how they identify," while allies support and “celebrate” the LGBTQ+ community.
While spreading a positive message, Swift also acknowledged the recent wave of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that has been introduced and signed into law in states across the country.
“I wish every place was safe and beautiful for people of the LGBTQ community,” Swift continued. “We can't talk about Pride, without talking about pain… There have been so many harmful pieces of legislation that have put people in the LGBTQ and queer community at risk.”
She continued: “It's painful for everyone, every ally, every loved one, every person in these communities, and that's why I'm always posting, ‘This is when the midterms are, This is when these important key primaries are.'”
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The audience applauded loudly as she continued to reiterate how important it is to vote in local and national elections.
“We can support as much as we want during Pride Month, but if we're not doing our research on these elected officials, are they advocates?” Swift said. "Are they allies? Are they protectors of equality?”
Earlier in her speech, Swift also referenced her LGBTQ+ positive song, “You Need to Calm Down," and how much joy it brings her to be able to sing it with her fans at ever Eras show. The music video for the song — which comes from her Lover album — featured LGBTQ+ celebrities including the Queer Eye cast, RuPaul, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Ellen DeGeneres, Billy Porter, Todrick Hall, Hayley Kiyoko, and more.
“I love you guys so much and happy Pride Month," Swift said at the end of her speech.
