Lady Gaga was angered, saddened, and moved by the suicide of her devoted fan 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer. Rodemeyer apparently hanged himself as a result of the constant bullying he received at school and online. And in response, Lady Gaga is urging President Obama to pass a nationwide anti-bullying bill. Plus, sheâs got 14 million Twitter monsters to help apply some pressure.
Itâs not the Ladyâs first foray into LGBT politicsâshe spoke at the 2009 Washington D.C. Equality March and at a Maine rally against âDonât Ask, Donât Tellâ last year. And though she gets criticized for having such a devoted fan base despite her relatively short career, she does appeal to a large base of young voters who, if properly instructed, could easily launch a campaign to get businesses, school districts, and politicians to start taking bullying seriously.
Plus, Gagaâs already got a meeting scheduled with Obama. Yes, it could just be for good press, but thereâs always the hope that she can relate to the little monster inside Obama and ignite a new passion to protect all kids bullied by other, no matter their identity.
By the way, Jamey Rodemeyerâs parents say theyâre gonna bury Jamey in a Born This Way t-shirt.
Image via qthomasbowe
Michael
I hope this can have some kind of impact I know Gaga despite what her many detractors have said genuinely and sincerely cares about the LGBT community.Allys like her and Lauper give me hope for the future in this country
Razzmatazz
I believe very much in what Lady Gaga is trying to do, but I am doubtful of a law getting passed. The problem is that with harassment and assault laws already in place, it will hard to get a bullying law in there too.
I think this is more a social problem than a legal one. I think that teachers, counselors, and other adults involved in the lives of youth need to undergo some sort of training or something so that they can effectively handle bullying situations.
Bryan
She might or might not get a law passed, but i think the attention she can generate about issues like this is well worth it.
ChrisC
Lady Gaga is probably one of the best and most effective, if not the best and most effective, celebrity LGBT Rigths Activist that we ever had. It baffles me that people in the LGBT community actually call her out saying that she is “Just useing us”. Whether or not it’s genuine (Which I’m certain it is), it’s still working. I hope she is able to raise enough attention and support to get a law passed.
Jordan
I love her to death and love that she cares so much about this, but laws simply won’t end bullying.
the crustybastard
I’d rather Lady Gaga lobby on our behalf than Joe Solmonese.
Razzmatazz
@ChrisC: I agree 100%. Lady Gaga has done more activism for the LGBT community than any other celebrity in the last decade.
Opheliac
I agree with Mother Monster on this. Why is it that hate crimes are technically illegal, but if they’re done to a teen in school, no one fucking does anything?
newcityspot
I’m so proud of her. Just yesterday I posted hoping that she would say something about it and she did. I’m not even a fan of her music, but I’m certainly proud that she made a public announcement including Jamey’s name, bringing attention to the situation.
Dodgy
Of course I am all for this initiative of Gaga’s, and was desperately sad to hear of yet another young life destroyed by bullying and intolerance…
I wonder, if Gaga has any leverage if it were not worth her meeting up, not with the President of the USA, but with the sort of movie stars, rock stars, etc that the bullies would admire and have them demonstrate even a fraction of the care and concern that she displayes for the disenfranchised and the terrorised.
I fear that the people who need to be reached in this are the bullies and Gaga is so identified with the Bullied that their tormentors are not likely to admire and listen to her. Gaga can support the bullied in their struggle against opression, but who can support the Bullies in overcoming their wrong views? Not someone like Gaga, whom they will inevitably see as part of the problem
Dodgy
Of course I am all for this initiative of Gaga’s, and was desperately sad to hear of yet another young life destroyed by bullying and intolerance…
I wonder, given the leverage that Gaga has, if it were not worth her meeting up, not with the President of the USA, but with the sort of movie stars, rock stars, etc that the bullies would admire and have them demonstrate even a fraction of the care and concern that she displays for the disenfranchised and the terrorised.
I fear that the people who need to be reached in this are the bullies and Gaga is so identified with the Bullied that their tormentors are not likely to admire and listen to her. Gaga can support the bullied in their struggle against opression, but who can support the Bullies in overcoming their wrong views? Not someone like Gaga, whom they will inevitably see as part of the problem
get lost tranny gag
Can’t stand her! What a attention [email protected] Past days she has spent fitting stupid clothes and taking photos for glossy magazines. She’s being ridiculous. How are you going to make bullying ILLEGAL? You can’t have a big brother type surveillance in schools for children. And how would you even convict children for this offence? Go waway.
Pitou
@get lost tranny gag: Fuck that.
I don’t give a flying fuck if she does do this partly for her gain. She influences a generation +++ in a very pro-equality way, and she has gobs and gobs of fans. We’re your future leaders and lawmakers. So you can fuck off. You’re probably just old and lonely so bitter. đ
Pitou
P.S. It’s nice to see a post here NOT bashing a major influence to mass amounts of young people. If were successfully using her to change minds, Im happy to be used by her for ticket/album sales.
Someone above said it best. Mother Monster vs. Joey baby running the show at HRC.
BamBam
I wish her the best, but I can’t escape the cynical notion that these laws would end up fairly useless because they wouldn’t be enforced. Hopefully, thats not the case.
Tyler
i support the cause. i still think she is blah. at best.
Red Meat
@Tyler: Don’t worry, you are meh at best.
Shannon1981
I am glad she is doing what she is doing. I don’t understand the criticism some people are throwing around here. She is trying to help us, people! Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
~PR~
@get lost tranny gag: Bitter much? My guess is she has done more for our causes than you will ever do and it just makes you feel good to complain about it as a form of deflection.
Opinionated
Bullying is natural. You can’t outlaw bullying. I swear the LGBT is getting weaker and dumber by the second.
Little Kiwi
And at what age did you Come Out fully, “Opinionated”?
Just curious. At what age did you Come Out fully, as in to EVERYONE? Were you bullied for being “the gay kid” when you were in school?
again, just curious.
for the life of me i will never understand why people criticize lady gaga for this. it makes no sense. what, you’re angry that a woman who has a massive amount of media attention is calling out anti-gay bigotry? why? because you and the people in “your life” think she’s “too weird” or is it that you think “she’s associated with gay stereotypes and stereotypical gays?”
rather than bitching about Lady Gaga, why don’t you complainers go out into the world today and talk to your friends, family members, religious community members, co-workers and political allies about the need for LGBT Equality in America?
seriously.
p.s. Shannon – HEY GURRRRRRRL!
Michael
I love this here people are talking about being against bullying then they tell people to go hang themselves like the hypocritical loser they are.
Ironic thing is this thread is about being AGAINST bullying yet people are bullying people for their opinions on this very thread.Talk about fucked up.
Opinionated
Oh, I was bullied…but not for being the “gay kid”…
We are not talking about me; we are talking about the weak people who choose to end their lives. The weak people that try to pass laws to “protect” people from bullying. No matter what you do, it will not be extinct. Why can’t you weak ‘tards wake up?
Little Kiwi
And at what age did you fully Come Out, “Opinionated”, as in to EVERYONE? You didn’t answer that.
Little Kiwi
what about the “weak” people who insist that “bullying isn’t an issue” and yet these people “choose” to be adults and yet not Come Out?
is that not weak? To be an adult and remain Closeted out of fear of bullying, or prejudice, or simple ego?
You think it’s weak to seek to end bullying? I think it’s weak to be a grown-ass man who doens’t have the orbs to be Out.
by all means, make excuses for being Closeted. just don’t think it doesn’t make you weak. it does. that’s why were all Closeted at some point – not just bullying, but anti-gay culture in society. We were weak and didnt stadn up against it, and live Out to defy it.
I think you have a rather warped and baseless perception of what is “weak”
newcityspot
@get lost tranny gag: I think where the information got lost was that Lady Gaga’s name is mentioned throughout Jamey’s story and he left a few of her song lyrics behind before killed himself. He tried his best to overcome his bullying and find inner strength, but ultimately, he couldn’t pull through on his own.
Dave
Ugh once again Lady Caca is using a GLBT rights and OUR issues to further her career, get attention to herself, and she’s NOT a person who genuinely cares about GLBT rights.
For the love of decency, dignity and and out of respect for the heartbreak this tragedy has caused, Gaga, PLEASE, stay the fuck away from the funeral. This is not the time for you to promote even the worthiest of causes, as you’re incapable of participating without making it, at least in part, ALL about YOU. And what you wear to get your photo taken.
Lady Gaga is doing this for PR as usual. Prior to thus suicide, there have sadly been others but because there wasn’t a Lady Gaga thread in the story, there was no mention or comment by her.
LMAO they said the SAME thing about Madonna when she was supposedly all for gay/GLBT rights.
Just watch a decade or so from now Caca if she’s still making shitty pop music, will have stopped caring about us and moved onto bigger and better things than GLBT rights just like Madonna.
Mav
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again:
I don’t give a shit whether Gaga’s motive is attention or virtue, if the results are the same and she convinces – pretty much singlehandedly – an entire generation of youth to stop condemning, torturing, and killing their gay peers.
Lady Gaga has done more for the gay rights movement than any other celebrity in Hollywood or politician in Congress or Joe Sixpack on the street, that’s for damned sure. Including the armchair detractors in this thread.
If you don’t like the way Gaga is running the LGBT rights show, put down your dick, pick up a fucking picket, and contribute a political statement of your own to the media soapbox.
Or quit whining about it.