Gaylors
Gaylors are a segment of Taylor Swift fans who believe Swift is part of LGBTQ community. This fandom is made up of primarily sapphic people.[1]
Media reactions[edit]
In October 2022, Salon.com compared Gaylors to QAnon, stating both groups exhibit "pareidolia, the human ability to make patterns and meaning out of randomness."[2]
In September 2022, Rolling Stone wrote an article about the Gaylor phenomenon and its ability to keep reemerging in pop culture.[3]
In November 2022, The Daily Targum labeled conversations speculating about Swift's sexuality as "invasive" and stated these theories "negatively impact her relationships."[4] Scholar, Dr. Hannah McCann disagrees with this theory, stating, “These fandoms do not exist to – or aim to – ‘out’ these celebrities. These fandoms are often a way for people to find queer representation in contexts that are otherwise saturated with straightness."[5]
In March 2023, Insider published a list of 41 Swift songs that could be interpreted from a queer perspective.[6]
In April 2023, Rolling Stone wrote an article about conflict between Gaylor and Anti-Gaylor Twitter accounts, stating Anti-Gaylor accounts represent 28 percent of Swift's fans' accounts, whereas Gaylor accounts represent 9 percent of the fandom. The article commented that this disparity often leads to the banning and harassment of Gaylor accounts from neutral-seeming fan spaces online.[7]
In May 2023, Dianna Agron responded to rumors that she and Swift had been in a romantic relationship by saying, "That is so interesting. I mean, there have been many stories about my dating life that are so wildly untrue. That’s funny.” Some media outlets took this to mean Agron denied dating Swift, while others noted she did not make a direct statement confirming or denying.[8][9][10]
In June 2023, the Pittsburgh City Paper wrote, "Gaylors have identified queer themes as well as queer references in her work...they have traded ideas, decoded messages, and shared interpretations. In doing so, this group has...taught each other the history of queer coding and lesbian culture, and fostered a sense of queer, feminist pride."[1]
Significant events[edit]
Gaylor theories first began circulating on lesbian forums in 2008.[5]
Kissgate[edit]
In 2014, Swift and Karlie Kloss attended a The 1975 concert and blurry photos were taken of them embracing, which led to speculation that they were kissing.[2] Reporters initially asked Swift's team about the photos, but they deflected, pushing the media to stop pursuing the story.[12][13] The photos raised suspicions among some fans, who began to pursue clues about the nature of Swift's relationship with Kloss, which was dubbed "Kaylor" by shippers.[14][15]
Wonderland[edit]
In 2014, Swift released 1989, featuring the track, “Wonderland”, which repeatedly makes reference to Alice in Wonderland, Dianna Agron’s favorite film. Gaylors theorized Swift was romantically involved with Agron due to Swift’s song. Agron had an Alice in Wonderland tattoo, which has since been removed.[3][16]
Eye theory[edit]
In 2019, a Tumblr user thought that Swift's Reputation promotional photo looked strange and split the photo in half using editing. The user shared that they believed the left side of the photo was Kloss's face and the right side of the photo was Swift's face, edited together. This theory was named "eye theory". It resurfaces whenever Kloss or Swift post images where half their faces are covered.[17]
April 2019 announcement[edit]
On April 14, 2019, according to People, Swift "posted another pastel-hued photo: a closeup of her brightly manicured hands, decked out with numerous colorful rings, resting on her yellow double-breasted blazer. The image bears the caption, '4.26'", suggesting she'd make an announcement on April 26, 2019.[18] Many gaylors speculated that the announcement would be Swift coming out, since it would occur on Lesbian Visibility Day.[19][20] On April 26, 2019, Swift dropped a music video for her song, Me!. Some fans were disappointed by Swift's not coming out,[21] other fans speculated that the video was a coming out,[22] and some queer people accused Swift of being a straight woman guilty of queerbating.[23]
Bettygate[edit]
In 2020, when Swift released Folklore, with track, "Betty", many Gaylors deemed the song a gay anthem, due to its subject being a girl. This led to anti-Gaylor Swifties, who were angered by the suggestion that Swift was gay, to dox Gaylor accounts and out people to their families.[12][24]
The Very First Night[edit]
In 2021, Swift released Red (Taylor’s Version), which included track, “The Very First Night”. On the song, Swift sings, “They don’t know about the night in the hotel/ They weren’t ridin’ in the car when we both fell/ Didn’t read the note on the Polaroid picture/ They don’t know how much I miss you.” Some fans suspected Swift was teasing them by switching out the word, “her”, which rhymes with “picture”, with the word “you”, which does not, suggesting the song was written for a woman.[25]
LGBT openers on The Eras Tour[edit]
In 2023, Swift hired several queer and sapphic acts to open for her Eras shows, including Phoebe Bridgers, Girl in Red, and MUNA.[26] The question, "Do you listen to Girl in Red?", has widely become known as a code to ask if someone is gay or attracted to women.[27][28]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Trachta, Ali. "For gaylors, Taylor Swift's Eras Tour hits different". Pittsburgh City Paper. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "How Gaylor Swift conspiracists think like QAnoners". Salon. 2022-10-31. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Jones, C. T. (2022-09-03). "Some Taylor Swift Stans Hunt For Clues to Queerness in Promos for New Album 'Midnights'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ Picker, Liora. "Taylor Swift 'Gaylor' theories might entice or entertain, but they also invade". The Daily Targum. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Geraets, Nell (2022-10-17). "Queer as Folklore: Why are fans arguing over Taylor Swift's sexuality?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ↑ Ahlgrim, Callie. "41 Taylor Swift songs, interpreted from a queer perspective". Insider. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ Jones, C. T. (2023-04-12). "Why Some Taylor Swift Stans Are Ganging Up On 'Gaylors': Report". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ "Dianna Agron Addressed Those Old Taylor Swift Romance Rumors, and I Still Have Hope". Jezebel. 2023-05-09. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ↑ Nast, Condé (2023-05-09). "Dianna Agron Thinks Decade-Old Taylor Swift Dating Rumors Are "So Interesting"". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ↑ Dailey, Hannah (2023-05-08). "Dianna Agron Finally Addresses Those Taylor Swift Dating Rumors". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ↑ "Fans think these lyrics on Taylor Swift's 'Lover' are proof she dated Karlie Kloss". Cosmopolitan. 2019-08-23. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Cruz, Caitlin (2022-03-25). "The Enduring Fervor of Gaylor Fan Theory". Jezebel. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ Romanoff, Zan (2016-06-16). "The Bizarre Taylor Swift Conspiracy Theory That She Is Secretly Gay". Vice. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ "The strongest proof and evidence that Taylor Swift and Karlie Kloss dated". Fluently Forward. 2021-07-16. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ Zoladz, Lindsay (2017-11-09). "How I Became a Taylor Swift–and–Karlie Kloss Shipper". The Ringer. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ Waters, Lauren (2022-02-17). "Why Taylor Swift Fans Believe She Secretly Dated Dianna Agron". Suggest. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ↑ "Is Taylor Swift Gay?". Gawker. 2022-09-28. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ "Let the Games Begin! Here's Every Instagram Countdown Hint Taylor Swift Has Dropped — So Far". Peoplemag. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ Keating, Shannon (2019-04-26). "Why So Many Of Us Believed Taylor Swift Was Coming Out". BuzzFeed News. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ "Is Taylor Swift Trying To Tell Us That Kaylor Was Real?". Nylon. 2019-04-25. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ↑ "Here's Why People Were Let Down When Taylor Swift Didn't Come Out". Advocate. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ Hope, Zinetta (2023). "Taylor Swift Keeps Teasing the Lesbian Community (and We Hope She Never Stops)". AfterEllen. Archived from the original on 2023.
- ↑ "Taylor Swift Tries to Cash in on LGBTQ+ Fan Base". Popdust. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ "All of the Lesbian Easter Eggs Taylor Swift Left Us in 'folklore'". Advocate. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-21.
- ↑ Kircher, Madison Malone (2021-11-22). "Taylor Swift Has Led Her Fans Down Another Gay Rabbit Hole". Slate. ISSN 1091-2339. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
- ↑ "Taylor Swift's 'Gaylor' Fans Think She's About To Make A Big Announcement Post-Breakup & They've Been Stacking Evidence". YourTango. 2023-04-12. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ "What does 'Listen Girl in Red Mean'? Taylor Swift fans create Betty lyrics conspiracy!". HITC. 2020-07-31. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
- ↑ "Taylor Swift's 'Eras' Tour Is Packed With Queer Guest Artists". Them. 2022-11-01. Archived from the original on 2023. Retrieved 2023-06-20.
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