Editing Cher (section)

== Political views ==
[[File:1985 Cher.jpg|upright|right|thumb|alt=Cher smiles in a black outfit with metallic studs, sporting a voluminous, spiky hairstyle.|Cher in 1985 at a reception hosted by First Lady [[Nancy Reagan]] at the [[White House]]]]

Cher has said that she is not a registered Democrat, but has attended many [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] events.<ref name=Wilker-2000>{{cite news|last=Wilker|first=Deborah|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=113900|title=Cher Begs Voters Not to Choose Bush|publisher=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]|date=November 1, 2000|access-date=January 18, 2016|archive-date=February 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201000740/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=113900|url-status=live}}</ref> Her [[Progressivism in the United States|progressive]] political views have attracted media attention and she has been an outspoken critic of the [[conservatism in the United States|conservative movement]].<ref name=Smith-2010>{{cite magazine |first=Krista |last=Smith |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2010/12/cher-201012 |title=Forever Cher |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |date=November 30, 2010 |access-date=January 17, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160120001736/http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2010/12/cher-201012 |archive-date=January 20, 2016}}</ref> She has commented that she did not understand why anyone would be a Republican because eight years under the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|administration of George W. Bush]] "almost killed [her]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/02/cher-i-dont-kno.html |title=Cher: 'I don't know why anyone would want to be a Republican'|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=February 6, 2009|access-date=January 18, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113184421/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2009/02/cher-i-dont-kno.html |archive-date=January 13, 2016}}</ref> During the [[2000 United States presidential election]], [[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] wrote that she was determined to do "whatever possible to keep [Bush] out of office".<ref name=Wilker-2000/> She said, "If you're black&nbsp;... a woman [or] any minority in this country at all, what could possibly possess you to vote Republican?&nbsp;... You won't have one fucking right left."<ref name=Wilker-2000/> She added, "I don't like Bush. I don't trust him ... He's stupid. He's lazy."<ref name=Wilker-2000/>

On October 27, 2003, Cher anonymously called a [[C-SPAN]] phone-in program to recount a visit she made to maimed soldiers at the [[Walter Reed Army Medical Center]] and criticized the lack of media coverage and government attention given to injured servicemen. Although she identified herself as an unnamed entertainer, she was recognized by the C-SPAN host, who questioned her about her 1992 support for independent presidential candidate [[Ross Perot]]. She said: <blockquote>When I heard him talk right in the beginning, I thought that he would bring some sort of common-sense business approach and also less partisanship, but then&nbsp;... I was completely disappointed like everyone else when he just kind of cut and run and no one knew exactly why&nbsp;... Maybe he couldn't have withstood all the investigation that goes on now.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?178824-1/open-phones&start=1115|title=Cher called in to comment on her visit to wounded soldiers in Walter Reed Army Hospital|publisher=[[C-SPAN Video Library]]|date=October 27, 2003|access-date=July 21, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160402030158/http://www.c-span.org/video/?178824-1%2Fopen-phones|archive-date=April 2, 2016}}</ref></blockquote>

[[File:Cher (50536824728) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|alt=Cher, wearing a black face mask and long dark hair, stands at an outdoor event with microphones in front of her and a crowd of masked people in the background.|Cher speaking with the media at an early voting center at [[Fowler Elementary School District]] in October 2020]]

In a 2006 ''[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]'' interview, Cher elaborated on her "against the [[Iraq War|war in Iraq]] but [[Support our troops|for the troops]]" position: "I don't have to be for this war to support the troops because these men and women do what&nbsp;... they're told to do&nbsp;... They do the best they can. They don't ask for anything."<ref>{{cite news|first=Steve|last=Mraz|url=http://www.stripes.com/news/cher-i-don-t-have-to-be-for-this-war-to-support-the-troops-1.51650|title=Cher: 'I don't have to be for this war to support the troops'|newspaper=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]]|date=July 16, 2006|access-date=January 18, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131232313/http://www.stripes.com/news/cher-i-don-t-have-to-be-for-this-war-to-support-the-troops-1.51650|archive-date=January 31, 2016}}</ref>

Cher supported [[Hillary Clinton]] in her 2008 presidential campaign.<ref name=Smith-2010/> After Obama won the Democratic nomination, she supported his candidacy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/65355/cher-radios-it-in-for-barack-obama|title=Cher Radios It in For Barack Obama|publisher=[[E!]]|date=October 23, 2008|first=Marc|last=Malkin|access-date=January 18, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330221824/http://www.eonline.com/news/65355/cher-radios-it-in-for-barack-obama|archive-date=March 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.accesshollywood.com/articles/cher-on-finding-love-guys-dont-want-to-be-mr-cher-66017/ |title=Cher On Finding Love: 'Guys Don't Want To Be Mr. Cher' |work=[[Access Hollywood]] |date=October 31, 2008 |access-date=January 18, 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131222622/http://www.accesshollywood.com/articles/cher-on-finding-love-guys-dont-want-to-be-mr-cher-66017/ |archive-date=January 31, 2016}}</ref> In a 2010 interview with ''Vanity Fair'', she commented that she "still thinks Hillary would have done a better job", although she "accepts the fact that Barack Obama inherited insurmountable problems".<ref name=Smith-2010/> During the [[2012 United States presidential election]], Cher and comedian [[Kathy Griffin]] released a [[public service announcement]] titled "Don't Let Mitt Turn Back Time on Women's Rights", criticizing [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] presidential nominee [[Mitt Romney]] for his support of [[Richard Mourdock]], the US Senate candidate who suggested that pregnancies resulting from rape were "part of God's plan".<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cher-kathy-griffin-slam-mitt-386235 |title=Cher, Kathy Griffin Slam Mitt Romney as 'Anti-Women' in PSA (Video) |date=November 3, 2012 |access-date=January 18, 2016 |first=Aaron |last=Couch |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160201012754/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/cher-kathy-griffin-slam-mitt-386235 |archive-date=February 1, 2016}}</ref>

In September 2013, Cher declined an invitation to perform at the [[2014 Winter Olympics]] opening ceremony in Russia due to the country's [[Concerns and controversies at the 2014 Winter Olympics#LGBT rights|controversial anti-LGBTQ legislation]] that overshadowed preparations for the event.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/sep/16/cher-winter-olympics-russia-gay-rights|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|title=Cher: I won't play Winter Olympics due to Russia's anti-gay laws|first=Sean|last=Michaels|date=September 16, 2013|access-date=January 18, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114213213/http://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/sep/16/cher-winter-olympics-russia-gay-rights|archive-date=January 14, 2016}}</ref> In June 2015, after [[Donald Trump]] announced his candidacy for president, she made critical comments on Twitter, stating that "Donald Trump's punishment is being Donald Trump".<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6605312/cher-donald-trump-twitter-hindenberg-punishment-is-being-donald|title=Cher Takes on Donald Trump on Twitter, Says His Punishment Is 'Being Donald Trump'|first=Natalie|last=Weiner|date=June 19, 2015|access-date=February 12, 2016|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206071155/http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/6605312/cher-donald-trump-twitter-hindenberg-punishment-is-being-donald|archive-date=February 6, 2016}}</ref> In 2018, after the victory in Brazil's presidential election of [[Right-wing populism|right-wing populist]] [[Jair Bolsonaro]], Cher called him a "pig" and "a politician from hell", before declaring that Bolsonaro should be "locked in prison for the rest of his life".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://f5.folha.uol.com.br/celebridades/2018/10/bolsonaro-e-um-porco-e-deveria-ser-preso-afirmou-a-cantora-cher.shtml |title='Bolsonaro é um porco e deveria ser preso', afirmou a cantora Cher |date=October 28, 2018 |newspaper=[[Folha de S.Paulo]] |language=pt-br |archive-date=April 7, 2020 |access-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407121924/https://f5.folha.uol.com.br/celebridades/2018/10/bolsonaro-e-um-porco-e-deveria-ser-preso-afirmou-a-cantora-cher.shtml |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Cher (50538658916).jpg|thumb|right|alt=Cher sings on stage, wearing a pink headscarf and black sequined jacket, with a large "Biden Harris" banner in the background.|Cher performing at a campaign rally during [[Joe Biden]]'s [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|2020 presidential campaign]]]]

Cher has advocated for recognition of the [[Armenian Genocide]]. At the 2016 premiere of ''[[The Promise (2016 film)|The Promise]]'', a war film depicting the genocide, she criticized Turkey's denial and highlighted the general public's lack of awareness. She cited the [[Hitler's Obersalzberg Speech|Obersalzberg Speech]] and the line, "[[Who, after all, speaks today of the annihilation of the Armenians?]]" She also discussed her Armenian heritage and her grandparents' survival of the genocide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cher On ''The Promise'': Why Remembering The Armenian Genocide Is So Important |url=https://www.accessonline.com/videos/cher-on-the-promise-why-remembering-the-armenian-genocide-is-so-important |access-date=December 23, 2023 |website=[[Access Hollywood]] |date=April 17, 2017 |archive-date=December 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223095531/https://www.accessonline.com/videos/cher-on-the-promise-why-remembering-the-armenian-genocide-is-so-important |url-status=live}}</ref> Cher expressed support for Armenia and [[Republic of Artsakh|Artsakh]] on Twitter during the [[2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Zornosa |first=Laura |title=Why these Armenian American celebs are speaking out about a chronic conflict |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-10-08/kardashians-armenian-american-celebs-talk-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-online |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 15, 2020 |date=October 8, 2020 |archive-date=October 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201009041803/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2020-10-08/kardashians-armenian-american-celebs-talk-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-online |url-status=live}}</ref> The following year, she congratulated [[Joe Biden]] for being the first US President to formally recognize the Armenian Genocide.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alexander |last=Kacala |title=Cher responds to Biden calling mass killing of Armenians a genocide |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/cher-responds-biden-calling-mass-killing-armenians-genocide-t216269 |access-date=December 23, 2023 |work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]] |date=April 24, 2021 |archive-date=December 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231223101033/https://www.today.com/today/amp/tdna216269 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2020, Cher raised nearly $2 million for [[Joe Biden 2020 presidential campaign|Biden's presidential campaign]] at a virtual LGBTQ-themed fundraiser.<ref>{{cite news|title='Do you believe in life after Trump?' Cher raises $2M for Biden at LGBTQ fundraiser|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/do-you-believe-life-after-trump-cher-raises-2m-biden-n1238985|access-date=February 17, 2021|publisher=[[NBC News]]|date=September 1, 2020|archive-date=December 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222122725/https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/do-you-believe-life-after-trump-cher-raises-2m-biden-n1238985|url-status=live}}</ref> In October, she campaigned for Biden in Nevada and Arizona<ref>{{cite news |last=Napoli |first=Jessica |date=October 22, 2020 |title=Cher campaigning for Joe Biden in Nevada and Arizona |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/cher-campaigning-biden-nevada-arizona |access-date=February 17, 2021 |publisher=[[Fox News]] |archive-date=December 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223051741/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/cher-campaigning-biden-nevada-arizona |url-status=live}}</ref> and released a cover of "[[Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe]]", originally from the 1943 musical ''[[Cabin in the Sky (film)|Cabin in the Sky]]'', with lyrics updated to be about Biden.<ref>{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Tyler |date=October 26, 2020 |title=Cher debuts 'Happiness is Just a Thing Called Joe' cover at pro-Biden concert event |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/cher-happiness-thing-called-joe-cover-biden-concert |access-date=February 17, 2021 |publisher=[[Fox News]] |archive-date=December 23, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223051743/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/cher-happiness-thing-called-joe-cover-biden-concert |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2022, following [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine|Russia's invasion of Ukraine]], Cher voiced support for Ukraine on Twitter and called for humanitarian aid.<ref>{{cite web |last=Giorgobiani |first=Natia |date=February 24, 2022 |title=Singer Cher spoke out in support of Ukraine |url=https://www.perild.com/2022/02/24/singer-cher-spoke-out-in-support-of-ukraine/ |access-date=March 21, 2022 |website=Perild |archive-date=April 17, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220417215142/https://www.perild.com/2022/02/24/singer-cher-spoke-out-in-support-of-ukraine/ |url-status=dead}}</ref> She referred to Russian President [[Vladimir Putin]] as a [[Despotism|despot]] seeking to [[Dissolution of the Soviet Union|restore the Soviet Union]]<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/89822912.cms |title=Russia-Ukraine crisis: Angelina Jolie, Priyanka Chopra, Mark Ruffalo, Jared Leto and other Hollywood stars band together to condemn attack |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=February 25, 2022 |archive-date=March 4, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304150210/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/english/hollywood/news/russia-ukraine-crisis-angelina-jolie-priyanka-chopra-mark-ruffalo-jared-leto-and-other-hollywood-stars-band-together-to-condemn-attack/articleshow/89822912.cms |url-status=live}}</ref> and announced plans to provide shelter to [[Ukrainian refugee crisis|Ukrainian refugees]] in her home.<ref>{{cite web |title=Cher supported the Ukrainians |url=https://frontnews.eu/en/news/details/23620/ |access-date=March 21, 2022 |website=Front News Ukraine |archive-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325032039/https://frontnews.eu/en/news/details/23620 |url-status=dead}}</ref>