A controversial New York Times opinion piece has openly speculated whether Taylor Swift is a closeted queer person has drawn the ire of the pop superstar’s associates. In the 5,000-word piece, written in The Times’ opinion section, editor Anna Marks strung together a long list of LGBTQ+ references, some overt, some perceived that Swift has weaved into her songs and performances. Marks suggested that Swift had, perhaps, for years been trying to signal that she identifies with the queer community. Marks wrote that the references began to appear in Ms. Swift’s artistry long before queer identity was undeniably marketable to mainstream America. The NYT piece suggests to queer people that she is one of them. Swift has in the past embraced the LGBTQ+ community, taking stands in support of her fans, calling her concerts a “safe space” for LGBTQ+ people. But she has denied that she is a member of the LGBTQ+ community. In a 2019 interview with Vogue magazine, Swift said she has simply aimed to be a good ally to the LGBTQ+ community. The Times received criticism from readers for its decision to publish its piece on Swift. Marks, seemingly aware of the article’s questionable assertions, preemptively addressed critics in the piece, saying she is aware that discussing the potential of a star’s queerness before a formal declaration of identity feels, to some, too salacious. The primary issue - why the need to speculate and what are the impacts of trying to out a celebrity in this way. The stories gain huge attention and dominate our collective imagination but at what cost is paid to the person that is subjected to such speculation? #Queer Up Gay Culture