18 LGBTQ+ References in Taylor Swift’s Lyrics (From Obvious To A Stretch)

Since Rolling Stone published the article “Some Taylor Swift Stans Hunt For Clues to Queerness in Promos for New Album ‘Midnights,’” Taylor Swift has been clear that she doesn’t mind searching for queer coding in her music. Even though her team is quick to shut down (other) rumors, she offered the magazine a rare exclusive photo of her recording her next album Midnights two weeks after the article. She went so far as to make a TikTok saying, “I know that I have a habit of dropping cryptic clues and easter eggs when giving you information about my music, and I am not here to deny that but I am here to defy that.”

“Gaylors” on social media are quick to find queer coding in interviews, photos, set design, release dates, costumes, etc. but today we’re not saying anything about the artist, just focusing on relatable queer experiences in the lyrics. Maybe some songs are written from the perspective of screaming from a glass closet or maybe Taylor Swift is just queerbaiting as a marketing tactic, but either way, it’s a singer-approved way to further engage with this lyrical mastermind’s music. And even if you think we’re completely delusional, consider that it’s comforting as a queer person to feel seen within one of the top artists' discography. And after everyone and their mother got into the Jake Gyllenhaal scarf conspiracy theory behind “All Too Well,” is it really so weird to look for any theme within her music? 

So down the rabbit hole we fall…