Taylor Swift Fans Flood GLAAD With Donations After ‘You Need to Calm Down’ Release
Taylor Swift fans are anything but mad after the singer's latest single dropped at midnight Friday (June 14), and they're showing how they really feel in the best way possible.
According to TMZ and other outlets, GLAAD (the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation) has experienced an influx of donations in the hours since Swift's "You Need to Calm Down" hit the internet. The pop star gives a shoutout to the organization in the song's second verse.
"Why are you mad when you could be GLAAD? (You could be GLAAD)/ Sunshine on the street at the parade/ But you would rather be in the dark ages/ Makin' that sign must've taken all night," Swift sings on the track (read the full lyrics here).
GLAAD had already set $1,300 as a goal for its Pride Month fundraising drive, in honor of Swift's favorite number (13). Many of the donations that poured in overnight have also been for $13, TMZ reported, and Swift herself gave a "very generous" contribution to GLAAD at the start of Pride Month on June 1.
The Reputation singer further demonstrated her support for the LGBTQ communities in an open letter to Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) earlier this month, urging him to vote "yes" on the Equality Act. The legislation, which has already passed the U.S. House, would "protect LGBTQ Americans from discrimination in employment, housing and other public accommodations," according to GLAAD.
Read her full statement below:
There's no word yet on exactly how much Swifties have contributed to GLAAD so far, but one thing's for sure: If this is the kind of messaging and advocacy we can expect from Taylor's next album, Lover, we couldn't be more excited to hear it.