Taylor Swift delights fans with surprise performance at LGBT landmark in New York City

Bonnie Christian
Updated

Taylor Swift has treated fans to a surprise performance at an historic LGBT landmark in New York City.

The pop star marked Pride month by turning up at the Stonewall Inn, the site of the 1969 Stonewall Riots, a pivotal moment in the fight for LGBT rights.

The performance followed the release on Thursday of her new single, You Need To Calm Down, which takes aim at homophobia.

Swift performed her hit Shake It Off at the bar in Greenwich Village with the evening's headliner, Modern Family star Jesse Tyler Ferguson.

He later tweeted: "I'm so happy I don't have to keep this secret any longer.

"Look who came to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Stonewall at the Stonewall Inn. @taylorswift13, you are a gem.

"Thank you for everything you do for the LGBTQ community. We (heart) you!"

Taylor Swift and Jesse Tyler Ferguson sung Shake It Off. (Getty Images for AEG)
Taylor Swift and Jesse Tyler Ferguson sung Shake It Off. (Getty Images for AEG)

Swift, 29, responded: "Thank you for having me Stonewall and happy Pride!"

Swift used to be criticised for her silence on political matters but since last year has become increasingly vocal on the issue of LGBT rights.

Earlier this month she urged her fans to write to their local senator to demand they back the Equality Bill, which, if passed, would introduce laws to protect the LGBT community in the US.

Taylor Swift surprised fans at the Stonewall Inn. (Getty Images for AEG)
Taylor Swift surprised fans at the Stonewall Inn. (Getty Images for AEG)

“Our country’s lack of protection for its own citizens ensures that LGBTQ people must live in fear that their lives could be turned upside down by an employer or landlord who is homophobic or transphobic,” Swift wrote on Instagram.

“The fact that, legally, some people are completely at the mercy of the hatred and bigotry of others is disgusting and unacceptable.”

In You Need To Calm Down, a single from Swift's upcoming seventh album, Lover, she sings "shade never made anybody less gay".

View this post on Instagram

🌈HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!!🌈 While we have so much to celebrate, we also have a great distance to go before everyone in this country is truly treated equally. In excellent recent news, the House has passed the Equality Act, which would protect LGBTQ people from discrimination in their places of work, homes, schools, and other public accommodations. The next step is that the bill will go before the Senate. I’ve decided to kick off Pride Month by writing a letter to one of my senators to explain how strongly I feel that the Equality Act should be passed. I urge you to write to your senators too. I’ll be looking for your letters by searching the hashtag #lettertomysenator. While there’s no information yet as to when the Equality Act will go before the Senate for a vote, we do know this: Politicians need votes to stay in office. Votes come from the people. Pressure from massive amounts of people is a major way to push politicians towards positive change. That’s why I’ve created a petition at change.org to urge the Senate to support the Equality Act. Our country’s lack of protection for its own citizens ensures that LGBTQ people must live in fear that their lives could be turned upside down by an employer or landlord who is homophobic or transphobic. The fact that, legally, some people are completely at the mercy of the hatred and bigotry of others is disgusting and unacceptable. Let’s show our pride by demanding that, on a national level, our laws truly treat all of our citizens equally. 🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈🌈 Click the link in my bio to sign the petition for Senate support of the Equality Act.

A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) on May 31, 2019 at 9:05pm PDT

The pop star praises the pro-LGBT group GLAAD.

Swift has previously been criticised in some circles for remaining publicly apolitical during the last presidential cycle.

Last October, she surprised many by issuing an endorsement of Tennessee governor candidate Phil Bredesen, who ultimately lost, citing the controversy over the state’s LGBTQ legislation as one reason for speaking up.

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