Lady Gaga to launch anti-bullying Born This Way Foundation
Lady Gaga has announced the upcoming launch of the Born This Way Foundation, named after her hit single and album that will focus on issues such as anti-bullying.
The bisexual popstar said that she is to launch the foundation with her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, and a number of partners including the John D & Catherine T MacArthur Foundation, the California Endowment and the Berkman Centre for Internet & Society at Harvard University
In a statement, Lady Gaga said: “My mother and I have initiated a passion project. We call it the Born This Way Foundation. Together we hope to establish a standard of Bravery and Kindness, as well as a community worldwide that protects and nurtures others in the face of bullying and abandonment.” She added that the foundation will work towards “youth empowerment and equality by addressing issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development and will utilise digital mobilisation as one of the means to create positive change.”
Her single Born This Way was hailed as ”the new gay anthem” by Elton John and features lyrics including: “No matter gay, straight, or bi/ Lesbian, transgendered life/ I’m on the right track, baby” and “Don’t be a drag, just be a queen.”
Gaga has long been a campaigner against bullying. In September she met with US president Barack Obama to talk about the issue of bullying.
The meeting came after a gay teenager, Jamey Rodemeyer killed himself after being bullied. He had previously recorded an ‘It Gets Better’ video and shortly before killing himself posted a line from a Lady Gaga song on his Facebook wall: “Don’t forget me when I come crying to heaven’s door.
Paying tribute to the teenager, Gaga told the audience at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in Las Vegas: “I just wanted to take a moment because we lost a little monster this week. Jamey, I know you’re looking down on us and you’re not a victim, you’re a lesson to all of us.”
