Taylor Swift has donated $113,000 (£86,000) to the Tennessee Equality Project (TEP), after being “inspired” by its work fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.
The singer outlined her reasons for donating in a letter sent to the group’s executive director, Chris Sanders, who then shared the handwritten note on Facebook.
In the note, Taylor explained her donation was a response to a series of bills introduced in Tennessee, which have been criticised as a “slate of hate” by activists.
One, the Tennessee Natural Marriage Act, would ban gay marriage in the state while another would change the laws surrounding nudity in locker rooms.
Taylor’s letter reads: “Dear Chris, I’m writing to you to say that I’m so inspired by the work you do, specifically in organising the recent petition of Tennessee faith leaders standing up against the ‘slate of hate’ in our state legislature.
“Please convey my heartfelt thanks to them and accept this donation to support the work you and those leaders are doing.
“I am so grateful that they’re giving all people a place to worship.”
Alongside a picture of it, Chris wrote: “Taylor has been a long-time ally to the LGBTQ community.
“She sees our struggle in Tennessee and continues to add her voice with so many good people, including religious leaders, who are speaking out for love in the face of fear.”
It is the latest high-profile political statement by Taylor, who announced her support for Democratic candidates in November’s mid-term elections.
The 29-year-old broke her long-held political silence in October last year, writing in a lengthy Instagram post that the Republican Party’s candidates’ stance on LGBTQ+ issues was a major factor in her choice.
She said: “I always have and always will cast my vote based on which candidate will protect and fight for the human rights I believe we all deserve in this country.
“I believe in the fight for LGBTQ rights, and that any form of discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender is WRONG.
“I believe that the systemic racism we still see in this country towards people of colour is terrifying, sickening and prevalent.”
Taylor was born in Pennsylvania but moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue her music career aged 14. She now divides her time between Tennessee and New York City.