Taylor Swift Taylor Alison SwiftSocial media platforms put muscle into National Voter Registration Day Taylor Swift on National Voter Registration Day: 'We need everyone' Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Hart among celebs highlighting National Voter Registration Day MORE on Monday promoted legislation aimed at extending federal protections to the LGBT community during a performance at the 2019 MTV Video Music Awards.

"Equality Act" was displayed in bright yellow letters as the singer finished performing her new song, "You Need to Calm Down," to open the awards show, which took place in Newark, N.J.

Taylor Swift promoted the Equality Act during her appearance tonight at the VMAs.

Via MTV pic.twitter.com/NLY1Kr49vZ — Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 26, 2019

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Swift has shown a greater willingness to speak out on politics in recent years, and has repeatedly advocated for the Equality Act, a bill that aims to grant federal protections against discrimination to people on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

The Democratic-led House in March approved the legislation, but President Trump Donald John TrumpFederal prosecutor speaks out, says Barr 'has brought shame' on Justice Dept. Former Pence aide: White House staffers discussed Trump refusing to leave office Progressive group buys domain name of Trump's No. 1 Supreme Court pick MORE has signaled opposition to the measure. It stands little chance of being brought up for a vote in the Senate.

In July, Swift penned a letter to Tennessee Sen. Lamar Alexander Andrew (Lamar) Lamar AlexanderPelosi urges early voting to counter GOP's high court gambit: 'There has to be a price to pay' Graham: GOP has votes to confirm Trump's Supreme Court nominee before the election The Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Washington on edge amid SCOTUS vacancy MORE (R) calling on him to defend LGBT rights and support the bill.

“Please, please think about the lives you could change for the better if you were to vote for the Equality Act in the Senate and prohibit this harsh and unfair discrimination.” Swift wrote in the letter, which she released on the day LGBT Pride Month began. "To vote against this bill would be to vote against the wishes of most Tennessean and Americans."

She also launched a Change.org petition calling for the upper chamber to pass the legislation. The petition had more than 500,000 signatures as of Monday evening.