Following the death of Jamey Rodemeyer, Gaga pledges to help make bullying a hate crime.
By Gil Kaufman
Lady Gaga
Photo: MTV News
Lady Gaga was so shaken with the news about the death of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer this weekend that she has called for President Obama to enact laws making bullying a hate crime.
Rodemeyer, who had posted an "It Gets Better" video in May about his long struggle with bullying at school, took his life on Sunday after what his parents said was years of taunting over his sexuality.
In his video, Rodemeyer cited Gaga as an inspiration, saying, "She makes me so happy. She lets me know that I was born this way. And that's my advice to you from her: You were born this way. All you have to do is hold your head up and you'll go far." The teen seems on the verge of tears when discussing Gaga's message and promising to keep on going despite the hate.
On Wednesday, Gaga expressed her sadness over Rodemeyer's death. "The past days I've spent reflecting, crying, and yelling," she tweeted. "I have so much anger. It is hard to feel love when cruelty takes someone's life." She went further, posting Rodemeyer's "Better" video, and insisting that bullying "must become illegal. It is a hate crime."
In fact, Gaga claimed in a subsequent tweet, she's so upset that she is planning to meet with President Obama on the matter.
"I will not stop fighting," she wrote. "This must end. Our generation has the power to end it. Trend it #MakeALawForJamey." A spokesperson for the White House could not confirm at press time if Gaga has officially set up a meeting with the president to discuss the issue.
MTV's ongoing "A Thin Line" project provides stories and resources for anyone who believes they are being cyberbullied or who is looking for ways to stop harassment by digital means.
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