Denver (Taylor’s Version)

I have a confession, but let me start by saying I have been a Swifty since the OG Yeehaw days. We’re talking like 2000 aughts. I grew up with Taylor Swift. I Love Her. Her debut album had a permanent place in my 5-Disc changer in my car until I had to sell it. 1989 remains my favorite album, partially because it came at a very transformative, wonderful time for me.

But let’s back up to 2013. Some of you already know I’m from Colorado and Taylor came to Denver as part of her RED tour. I wasn’t able to go because I was very, very pregnant.

Unfortunately, this is also where a complete *expletive* from one of our local radio stations victimized Taylor. Thankfully, she spoke up and this DJ was fired. He then decides to sue Taylor… you know, because he was held accountable for his own actions (funny how offenders do that).

So Taylor counter sues for $1.00. She didn’t need the money, it was a symbolic gesture and it was more for all victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence.

Of course, this man armed with lawyers and *the audacity* takes this all the way to a jury trial in 2017, again here in Denver. Now my son and my daughter, who I have been singing Taylor Swift songs to since they were in the womb, are walking through the living room when the TV is on, seeing Taylor Swift and wondering why she’s on our local news.

By this time, I’d been in victim advocacy for the last 10 years. I was flabbergasted and disgusted watching the reports of how some people treated this trial–like entertainment. Members of our very own public here in Denver would sit outside the courthouse each morning hoping to win a lottery to get inside and be a witness to someone else’s trauma and pain on display for the world.

Taylor won. And she won her $1.00.

But more importantly, she was believed.

In Taylor’s own Miss Americana documentary (available on Netflix) and in her “Silence Breakers” interview with TIME, she addresses this case and the importance of believing victims. When survivors like Taylor or myself talk about the power that comes with being believed, there is no way to overstate that sentiment. Study after study shows that victims who outcry about sexual abuse are more likely to seek further crisis services or report that abuse if they are met with belief the first time.

Now here’s my confession: I managed to survive the Great War of Ticketmaster 2022 and score seats to this concert for night one in Denver. So I was amped because it’s my first time seeing Taylor, and it’s also going to be my littles’ first time seeing a concert at all.

Or so I thought.

I was telling my girlfriends how excited I was that I’m going to see her for the first time. And one of them says, “Kim, we’ve seen her before”.

Umm, Excuse me? What?

Turns out I have seen her before. My best friends and I went to a Brad Paisley concert in 2007 in my hometown of Greeley, Colorado at the Greeley Stampede. Kelly Pickler and Taylor opened for Brad Paisley that year.

And I don’t remember it.

Because just one week prior, the man who sexually assaulted me was found guilty after a week-long jury trial.

I full-on forgot seeing one of the most iconic artists of our generation in concert… because trauma is weird.

But I have an idea: What if we make this Denver memory a good one? How great would that be if those of you that are also attending the Denver shows brought with you a $1.00 bill? And we all held up those symbolic $1 bills as a way to tell every victim of sexually based violence, that we see you, we hear you, and we believe you.

I was thrilled to hear fans have been doing this at other concerts, including on the first anniversary in Tampa where she addressed the crowd with a heartfelt message of support and gratitude. So I’d like to take this even one step further, regardless of whether you are in Colorado or attending The Eras shows.

Let’s all take our symbolic dollars we’re bringing with us to concerts or showing in selfies on social media, and donate them to victim-focused non-profits.

I don’t know about you, but I’ll be much happier giving my money to organizations making the world a better place… as opposed to a certain service which shall not be named me and all my homies indeed hate (Spoiler, it rhymes with flick it pastor).

End Violence Against Women International is the organization that I have worked with and they are responsible for creating the Start by Believing campaign. It’s more than just a few words—it’s a philosophy—that when someone discloses they were victimized, you’ll say, “I see you, I hear you, and I believe you. How can I help?”

If you’re interested in taking the pledge to Start by Believing and donating those dollars in Taylor’s name to End Violence Against Women International I’ve included more information and links here.

If you’re looking for a Colorado-centric non-profit, check out the Colorado Organization for Victims Assistance (COVA) 501(c)(3), providing training on compliance with the Colorado Victim Rights Amendment and assistance of crime victims and their families. You can also support The Blue Bench, a 501(c)(3) in Denver that helps serve communities and populations that are in need of financial, counseling, and other victim support services.

For those of you who are also going to be at the show, I can’t wait to trade friendship bracelets, dance for hours on end, and raise our dollar bills in support of survivors everywhere.

If you’re joining via social media, be sure to use the hashtag #DenverTaylorsVersion so we can connect and spread our support across the world.