Taylor Swift kicked off the second month of her "Reputation" tour in Chicago Saturday night, and she had a few words to say about inclusion and acceptance as well. June is Pride Month, and so the singer dedicated one of the songs from her new album to the LGBTQ+ community with a powerful speech that touched the hearts of many on Twitter.
She came out wearing a rainbow dress and spoke eloquently about the bravery it takes for many to simply speak their truths in this country and live their lives as they see themselves.
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View Story"This is a month where I think we need to celebrate how far we've come, but we also need to acknowledge how far we still have left to go," Swift told the audience of more than 50,000. "May we end up in a world where everyone can live and love equally and no one has to be afraid to be vulnerable and say how they feel."
She also gave a special shout-out to any of those who have not yet felt comfortable enough in their own selves or environment to come out. "May you do that in your own time," she told them. "When it comes to feelings and when it comes to love and searching for someone to spend your whole life with, it's all just really, really delicate." This, of course, set up her performance of the latest single off her "Reputation" album.
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View StoryCheck out the full transcript of her speech below, followed by some of the passionate responses she got on social media.
It's very brave to be vulnerable about your feelings in any sense, in any situation, but it's even more brave to be honest about your feelings and who you love when you know that that might be met with adversity from society. And so this month and every month I want to send out my love and respect to everybody who has been brave enough to be honest about how they feel, to live their lives as they are, as they feel they should be, as they identify. And this is a month where I think we need to celebrate how far we've come, but we also need to acknowledge how far we still have left to go.
And I want to send my love and respect out to everybody who in their journey in their life hasn't yet felt comfortable enough to come out, and may you do that in your own time. May we end up in a world where everyone can live and love equally and no one has to be afraid to be vulnerable and say how they feel. When it comes to feelings and when it comes to love and searching for someone to spend your whole life with, it's all just really, really delicate, you know?
.@taylorswift13 had a speech tonight in Chicago about pride month that damn near made me cry.
@davidcookmusic
Look it up.
Proud.
TAYLOR SWIFT REALLY DEDICATED DELICATE TO THE GAYS AND DID A WHOLE SPEECH ABOUT PRIDE MONTH, SHES RAISING MILLIONS FOR THE LGBT+ COMMUNITY pic.twitter.com/oVQhpCLfVG
@swiftistrouble
@taylorswift13 tonight before giving her pride speech pic.twitter.com/84t52Wf2wr
@AwkwardSwiftie
June is Pride Month & @taylorswift13 gave a really great speech!! We've come so far, but we've still got a long way to go... #repTourChicago #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/qNfXj9HcKV
@LaineyC94
So proud of @taylorswift13 last night for bringing up pride month and sharing encouraging, supportive, and inclusive words with the crowd. pic.twitter.com/nlbrjuv1us
@HedgesThedges
anyway i will NEVER get over taylor swift, arguably the biggest pop star in the world, taking several minutes to talk about pride month in front of 52,000 people
@gaysey96
Taylor, the words you said last night about pride and having pride in yourself and feeling comfortable about who you are meant so much to me. I'm so happy and you mean so much. You're amazing! @taylorswift13
@yOdellehewho24
TAYLOR SWIFT DID A WHOLE SPEECH FOR PRIDE AND I ACTUALLY STARTED TEARING UP NGSNGJSFKN
@ParxGhost
SHE WAS MY FIRST CRUSH AS A LITTLE KID
When Taylor Swift said "June is pride month" in a rainbow dress. I legit stopped and watched her talk
@Suppajayy23
When Taylor Swift puts her entire weight behind her LGBT+ fans and shows them love on Pride Month, it would be REALLY AMAZING if some didn't try to twist everything and make it about their invented ship. SMH
@Scarlet_Halo
I loved everything about #RepTourChiacgo but the best part was @taylorswift13 giving a pride speech while wearing a rainbow dress ❤️❤️❤️ #reputation #ReturnOfTheQueen
@its_b_dubs31
I'm so happy for the pride community within the Taylor Swift fandom tonight ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
@screamingcoIor
Emotionally exhausted after virtually attending #repTourChicago night 2! That pride speech, the rain during long live,22, the costumes...my heart can't take all this 😘 71 days until I get to experience it in person in Tampa 😍!#ToasttoRepTour @taylorswift13 @taylornation13
@mintyxfresh
Taylor Swift is such a class act for giving that speech on #RepTourChiacgo talking about #pride pic.twitter.com/9cKnExWgKJ
@VictorMirnoff
Taylor Swifts pride month speech before perfoming delicate yesterday at the Reputation tour
@Saby6227
I seriously love tay so much#Pride #PrideMonth pic.twitter.com/omx6dUvc3K
When @taylorswift13 spoke about #pride and did that sassy shoulder shake, my whole month was made! #LoveWins #HappyPrideMonth #iloveher
@montse23salinas
*Taylor Talks About Pride Month And Coming Out*
@mayaisdelicate
Me: #PrideMonth #TaylorSwift @taylorswift13 @taylornation13 pic.twitter.com/ePjo5VQydV
First @taylorswift13 plays 'our song' then she shows pride month love. My little gay heart is so happy. #PrideMonth
@BrandonGray13
That speech was everything @taylorswift13. We have come so far but we still have to farther to go and it's amazing people like you who stand up and put your support out there! There's no shame in who you love. Love is love and we love without reason! #pride
@_itsjesscaa