Taylor Swift is a powerful ally of the LGBTQIA+ community, but there are members of the community that are actually icons

According to The Atlantic, Taylor swift has certainly taken a stance in support of the LGBTQIA+ community and has deemed herself an ally, creating a petition supporting the Equality Act, releasing a song that name drops GLAAD, pokes fun at anti-gay protestors, and spotlights queer celebrities. She is finally becoming more vocal on her social media against social injustices. And the Atlantic says that her ally-ship is the most we should admire from Taylor Swift, her willingness to protect and support her queer peers. For a long time, those identifying as straight have had the microphone and their stories have had the spotlight. Take Swift’s music videos for Love Story and You Belong With Me. The Atlantic reminds readers that as soon as heterosexual allies take up more space than the very people they are supporting, we are back to square one. And then there’s the problem with commodification; a music video like "You Need to Calm Down" is a hit now because queerness is becoming performatively mainstream, but a career move like this was a huge risk not long ago. Not to mention the rampant violence the queer community still faces behind the scenes.^[1] We should draw our attention to the real “gay icons” who actually identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and who are able to speak with nuance and pride about their very own experiences. The point is really for allies to listen and to support most of the time rather than take the stage. LA Magazine lists just a few of the revolutionaries of our time who are not just waking up to the need to fight for the rights of the queer community. To name some icons: RuPaul, an American producer, drag queen, model, and Emmy award winner; Billy Porter, Broadway star and fashion ambassador; Indya Moore, an actor and one of the first transgender models for Louis Vuitton; Hannah Gadsby, an Australian comedian with a Netflix hit called Nanette, and many, many more.^[2] The Huffington Post reminds readers that queer representation is key; if you do not see yourself on screen, in policy-making, in the school system, then this absence leads to perceived invisibility. A lack of representation has self-fulfilling and lasting effects; what you do not see can become abnormal. Focusing on the words of the actual LGBTQIA+ community is most valuable.^[3]