Sean Michaels 23.9.11 http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/sep/23/lady-gaga-obama-bullyingLady Gaga to meet with Obama over bullying
Singer plans to discuss anti-bullying legislation with president following fan's suicide
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| Lady Gaga … 'Our generation has the power to end bullying.' |
Lady Gaga has announced she is to meet Barack Obama to discuss new legislation to counteract bullying.
Following the recent suicide of a 14-year-old fan, Jamey Rodemeyer, a
victim of bullies, the singer called on American lawmakers to make
bullying illegal. Bullying, she tweeted, is a "hate crime".
"I am meeting with our president," Gaga declared on Twitter. "I will not stop fighting." Despite her words, however, there has been no confirmation from the White House that Obama has actually agreed to meet with Gaga. But the pop star will not be deterred: "[Bullying] must end," she wrote. "Our generation has the power to end it. Trend it #MakeALawForJamey."
Jamey Rodemeyer, from Buffalo, New York, killed himself last weekend. Although Rodemeyer had participated in the It Gets Better campaign, offering his support to gay teenagers, he was the victim of bullying at his own school. On his blog, he wrote: "I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens."
As news emerged of Rodemeyer's death, Gaga expressed sorrow and frustration. "The past days I've spent reflecting, crying, and yelling," she wrote earlier this week. "I have so much anger. It is hard to feel love when cruelty takes someone's life." That anger turned into resolve: "Bullying must become be illegal," she tweeted. "It is a hate crime."
Lady Gaga has been a vocal supporter of gay rights, particularly as an advocate for the end of the US military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy regarding gay recruits. That rule was repealed on Tuesday.
"I am meeting with our president," Gaga declared on Twitter. "I will not stop fighting." Despite her words, however, there has been no confirmation from the White House that Obama has actually agreed to meet with Gaga. But the pop star will not be deterred: "[Bullying] must end," she wrote. "Our generation has the power to end it. Trend it #MakeALawForJamey."
Jamey Rodemeyer, from Buffalo, New York, killed himself last weekend. Although Rodemeyer had participated in the It Gets Better campaign, offering his support to gay teenagers, he was the victim of bullying at his own school. On his blog, he wrote: "I always say how bullied I am, but no one listens."
As news emerged of Rodemeyer's death, Gaga expressed sorrow and frustration. "The past days I've spent reflecting, crying, and yelling," she wrote earlier this week. "I have so much anger. It is hard to feel love when cruelty takes someone's life." That anger turned into resolve: "Bullying must become be illegal," she tweeted. "It is a hate crime."
Lady Gaga has been a vocal supporter of gay rights, particularly as an advocate for the end of the US military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy regarding gay recruits. That rule was repealed on Tuesday.
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