An Open Letter to Lady Gaga About Gay Rights, Bullying, and Generally Being a Badass

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Dear Lady Gaga,

We heard you were at the White House yesterday, meeting with one of Barack Obama's senior political advisers, to talk about bullying prevention. We think that's really cool. We're pretty sure you're the only woman on Earth who's ever been invited to the President's house after appearing in public wearing nothing but raw meat. It only serves to emphasize what an unusual gift for communication you have.

We think it's beyond impressive that you are able to swing from the everyday surrealist pop-musical melodrama that made you famous to artfully and passionately articulating the frustrations of both dejected youth and the LGBT community -- and in a manner that makes even the government sit up and pay attention to what you have to say.

The point that we fell madly in love with you was that day you spoke at the National Equality Rally in Washington D.C. in 2009. You were angry, you were passionate, you were touching, you were empowered. Damn it, woman, you were an absolute inspiration.



We think it's magnificent that a mainstream pop act that sells enough records to have access to virtually every home in America is so very vocal and unrelenting about these things. Madonna has always (rightfully) been given a lot of credit for standing up for the gay community, but even she doesn't have a patch on you, Gaga. She's never been to the White House and we don't recall seeing her at any rallies either. But you, Gaga, you're not afraid to roll up your sleeves, get your hands dirty, and fight for what you believe in, in any arena.

We can't help but think that the (successful) fight against Don't Ask, Don't Tell had a little bit to do with you speaking out and forcing middle America to see the situation differently. Yours was an articulate, informed, and important voice in that struggle.



So we're glad, Gaga, that now you're working to help bullied youth. Because, as we all know, bullying is rife in our schools, and now, thanks to social media and cell phones, it doesn't even stop at the end of the school day anymore, like it used to in the good old days (when your classmates had to be in the same room in order to torture you).

We know you understand what it feels like to be victimized by your peers because of the intimate interview you did with MTV this year: Inside The Outside. We were so touched to see you talking candidly about the most painful moments of your youth, and opening up about the public humiliations you suffered through in your teens (including getting thrown in a trash can by the cool kids in front of a crowded restaurant), because it's likely that thousands -- maybe millions -- of kids being bullied right now watched that show and were given some hope for a better adult life because of your stunning example.

So thanks, Gaga. We should mention that we also love you as a performer and as one of the most distinctive and innovative pop stars in music. But you've so much more to offer the world than mind-blowing stage shows and radio-friendly tunes. So never back down, Lady Gaga. Never stop fighting the good fight. Because at this moment in time, we feel like whatever team you're on is the one that's going to win.

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