Arts & Entertainment
Taylor Swift blasts homophobia, shouts out GLAAD on new track
‘You Need to Calm Down’ is the second single from her album ‘Lover’
Taylor Swift. (Photo by Glenn Francis/Pacific Pro Digital Photography)
Taylor Swift released her new song “You Need to Calm Down,” the second single from her upcoming album “Lover,” and it’s being hailed as a pro-LGBTQ anthem.
In the song, Swift calls out haters with the second verse dedicated to people who have anti-LGBTQ views. She even namechecks media watchdog organization GLAAD.
According to TMZ, GLAAD has received an increase in donations since the song’s release.
“You are somebody that we don’t know. But you’re coming at my friends like a missile. Why are you mad? When you could be GLAAD? Sunshine on the street at the parade. But you would rather be in the dark ages making that sign. Must have taken all night,” Swift sings. “You just need to take several seats and then try to restore the peace / And control your urges to scream about all the people you hate. Cause shade never made anybody less gay.”
“Can you just not step on his gown?” Swift adds in the refrain.
did @taylorswift13 just — pic.twitter.com/MkfkkBComN
— GLAAD (@glaad) June 14, 2019
Fans praised the track for calling out homophobia on social media.
Honestly though, #YouNeedToCalmDown talks about self-expression, bullying, double standards, being gay, AND it’s an 80s synth-esque bop. Thank you, @taylorswift13. pic.twitter.com/zjNgLqcAxH
— Ryan Schocket (@RyanSchocket) June 14, 2019
@taylorswift13 ending homophobia and sexism in 2 minutes and 51 seconds #YouNeedToCalmDown pic.twitter.com/52gBQu4mXe
— Mauricio: Stream/Buy #YouNeedToCalmDown (@MauricioSwift13) June 14, 2019
The fact taylor Swift dropped her new song on Trumps birthday & it’s all about how hiding behind the internet & focusing on being rude is a waste of time and how everyone should be accepted and not shading them is ICONIC #YouNeedToCalmDowm pic.twitter.com/8QFivoS8Yt
— Alla (@allakmiller) June 14, 2019
Girls and gays we’re really going to be screaming “‘CAUSE SHADE NEVER MADE ANYBODY LESS GAY” at the next tour. That’s really happening.
— Chris Swiftie™?️?? (@HuffleBoy) June 14, 2019
Listen up lgbt swifties can you imagine screaming “shade never made anybody less gay” at the ts7 tour with all your friends because I can and… I’m crying
— Jemima Skelley (@jemimaskelley) June 14, 2019
“Lover” will be released on Aug. 23.
Listen below.
Celebrity News
Madonna announces release date for new album
‘Confessions II’ marks return to the dance floor
Pop icon Madonna on Wednesday announced that her 15th studio album will be released on July 3.
Titled “Confessions II,” the new album is a sequel to 2005’s “Confessions on a Dance Floor,” an Abba and disco-infused hit.
The new album reunites Madonna with producer Stuart Price, who also helmed the original “Confessions” album. It’s her first album of new material since 2019’s “Madame X.”
“We must dance, celebrate, and pray with our bodies,” Madonna said in a press release. “These are things that we’ve been doing for thousands of years — they really are spiritual practices. After all, the dance floor is a ritualistic space. It’s a place where you connect — with your wounds, with your fragility. To rave is an art. It’s about pushing your limits and connecting to a community of like-minded people,” continued the statement. “Sound, light, and vibration reshape our perceptions. Pulling us into a trance-like state. The repetition of the bass, we don’t just hear it but we feel it. Altering our consciousness and dissolving ego and time.”
Denali (@denalifoxx) of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” performed at Pitchers DC on April 9 for the Thirst Trap Thursday drag show. Other performers included Cake Pop!, Brooke N Hymen, Stacy Monique-Max and Silver Ware Sidora.
(Washington Blade photos by Michael Key)
Arts & Entertainment
In an act of artistic defiance, Baltimore Center Stage stays focused on DEI
‘Maybe it’s a triple-down’
By LESLIE GRAY STREETER | I’m always tickled when people complain about artists “going political.” The inherent nature of art, of creation and free expression, is political. This becomes obvious when entire governments try to threaten it out of existence, like in 2025, when the brand-new presidential administration demanded organizations halt so-called diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programming or risk federal funding.
Baltimore Center Stage’s response? A resounding and hearty “Nah.” A year later, they’re still doubling down on diversity.
“Maybe it’s a triple-down,” said Ken-Matt Martin, the theater’s producing director, chuckling.
The rest of this article can be found on the Baltimore Banner’s website.
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