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More than any politician – or any other pop star – Taylor Swift has sowed fear in the hearts of LGBTQ equality foes.
Democrat candidates running for president have strongly denounced the White House's opposition to the Equality Act, such as the broad anti-discrimination bill that would protect LGBTQ people at the federal level.
It was passed by the House earlier this year, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will not allow the vote in the Senate. Beyond the initial declaration of opposition to the bill by the White House in May, Democrats' claims were largely ignored.
But when Swift called the Trump administration at the MTV Video Music Awards last Monday night, accepting the annual video award for his weird anthem, "You must calm down," and asking the White House to answer a petition. & # 39; was promoted in favor of the Equality Act, the answer came less than 24 hours later.
The White House press secretary, Judd Deere, has repeated to the Trump administration that she "supports equal treatment for all" but does not support this bill because of "poison pills" – a false argument supposedly to conceal the bow of President Donald Trump. religious extremists and their desire to discriminate on the basis of their religious beliefs.
On Fox News, Kellyanne Conway tried to illuminate the call of the Swift Bugler by literally singing the lyrics of Swift's song, while Fox and friends– who acted as an arm of the administration – invited a guest who made fun of Swift.
Even the anti-LGBTQ evangelical leader and Trump loyal supporter, Franklin Graham, made it clear that he had to embark on the dudgeon, accusing Swift of promoting "the most overwhelming threat to religious freedom in the world." history of our country ".
The immediate reactions were for a good reason. The 29-year-old pop phenomenon that has sold more than 50 million albums has a massive fan base among a young demographics of the country – people who follow it. When Swift broke his silence on partisan politics and endorsed the Democrats in 2018 in a message to more than 112 million of his Instagram account, an increase in the number of registrations followed, which scared the GOP's seasoned strategists.
Madonna, Lady Gaga and other artists and figures in Hollywood have of course also defended LGBTQ civil rights – long before Swift – and have certainly influenced millions of Americans on the subject.
But unlike most of them, Swift did not emerge from an urban or counter-cultural music scene, which can be too easily marginalized by GOP politicians and voters. Instead, she came out of Red America, in a comparatively traditional conservative musical universe.
Born in Pennsylvania, Swift moved to Nashville with her family as a teenager. At the age of 20, Swift became a country music sensation. Soon, she had crossover successes that brought international fame, expanded her audience astronomically and helped her gain tremendous influence.
When Swift rose against Republican candidates in 2018, Trump's response revealed Swift's superpowers. Almost all known women who pass through Trump are vilified by misogynistic tirades.
But Trump's only answer to Swift was that he "would like Taylor's music about 25% less now."
For Trump, it was about as respectful – and cautious – as you get. Senator Corey Booker, Senator Elizabeth Warren and other Democratic presidential candidates signed Swift's White House petition on the Equality Act earlier this summer, recognizing her power and power, following her example rather than the other way around.
Some members and non-members of the LGBTQ community questioned the sincerity of Swift's advocacy, fearing that she would benefit from it or, in the case of the "Calm Down" video, filled with strange icons and archival flags. in the sky, engaging in appropriate appropriation. This has often been said about Madonna, Gaga and others.
"When the White House must constantly repeat that it is in favor of "equal treatment for all" but that the Equality Act has "poison pills" that "infringe on the rights of parents and conscience, "the ridiculous argument – and its political calculation – emerged from the opening"
Whatever the case may be, Swift is also causing severe stomach burns to the enemies of equality. It's true that hiring celebrities as cause leaders can be a double-edged sword – we only have to look at Jussie Smollett about this, after all – and the activists have to be wary and know when to create a distance. But when someone gives you a huge platform, you do not refuse it.
And in this case, this platform expands into the GOP and the voters coveted by Trump. When the White House must constantly repeat that it is in favor of "equal treatment for all" but that the Equality Act has "poison pills" that "infringe on the rights of parents and conscience, "the ridiculous of the argument and its political calculation the opening
The goal of the Trump campaign is to appease right-wing suburban voters who are repelled by blatant fanaticism – and this includes many members of Swift's vast fan base – without departing from the demands of evangelical rulers. . As Swift herself said in a open letter in JuneHowever, you can not claim to support equality while supporting discrimination.
She articulates this point repeatedly and aloud – enough to make them nervous in the White House and the religious right. That's why, for them, perhaps more than anyone else on the issue, Swift represents a clear and present danger.
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