Taylor Swift Donates More Than $100K for LGBTQ Equality
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 09: Taylor Swift attends the 2018 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on October 9, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Earlier this year, Taylor Swift vowed in Elle Magazine to do more “to help” when it comes to dangerous rhetoric from politicians against marginalized populations. And now, the singer is putting her money where her mouth is.
Swift just donated $113K to the Tennessee Equality Project, “which advocates for the equal rights of LGBTQ people in Tennessee …. through legislative advocacy.”
“She sees our struggle in Tennessee and continues to add her voice with so many good people, including religious leaders, who are speaking out for love in the face of fear,” Executive Director Chris Sanders said.
Swift penned a letter to the organization to voice her support of their opposition to what’s being dubbed a “Slate of Hate” in Tennessee, which is a nickname given to 12 bills introduced by conservative lawmakers in the state, NBC News reports.
More than 100 faith leaders have also joined the cause to oppose the bills which strike down rights like same-sex marriage, adoption and more for LGBTQ citizens.
In the letter dated April 8 and posted to TEP’s Facebook page, Swift wrote:
“I’m writing to say that I’m so inspired by the work you do, specifically in organizing the recent petition of Tennessee faith leaders standing up against the ‘Slate of Hate’ in our state legislature. Please convey my heartfelt thanks to them and accept this donation to support the work you and those leaders are doing. I’m so grateful that they’re giving all people a place to worship.”
After years of being relatively quiet on sociopolitical issues, Swift says she is excited to step up.
“I realized that it actually is my responsibility to use my influence against that disgusting rhetoric,” she wrote. “I’m going to do more to help.”
