Lady Gaga Wants To Make Bullying Illegal Following Jamey Rodemeyer's Suicide

Tragic news of 14-year-old Jamey Rodemeyer's suicide on Sunday has enraged pop star Lady Gaga to take a stand against bullying.

The teenager from Williamsville, NY, who had posted his own "It Gets Better" video on YouTube, and tried to inspire fellow bullied children and teens into believing they can survive the cruelty of bullying -- took his own life after what his parents claim was years of bullying because of his sexuality.

Gaga turned to Twitter to rally a call for the end of bullying. In a series of tweets she wrote:

"The past days I've spent reflecting, crying, and yelling. I have so much anger. It is hard to feel love when cruelty takes someones life."

"Jamey Rodemeyer, 14 yrs old, took his life because of bullying," she wrote linking to his "It Gets Better" video, "Bullying must become illegal. It is a hate crime."

Gaga then announced that she is meeting with President Obama to address the growing problem. "I will not stop fighting. This must end. Our generation has the power to end it. Trend it. #MakeALawForJamey."

According to MTV News, 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.

According to reports, Jamey was a Lady Gaga fan and had made a collage of himself at different stages in his life with Lady Gaga in the background. The 14-year-old had even written lyrics to one of Gaga's songs on his Facebook wall on the weekend he committed suicide. "Don't forget me when I come crying to heaven's door, Rodemeyer wrote.

Jamey's mother Tracy Rodemeyer told CBS News she will bury her son this Saturday in a Lady Gaga t-shirt that reads "Born This Way."

Lady Gaga has long been an advocate for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community, and has been vocal about her own experiences with bullying as a teen.

On an MTV special Gaga recalled one incident where a group of boys threw her in a trash can in the street, and just laughed at her. The pop star confessed she was too embarrassed to tell anyone, even her parents about incident.

"It didn't sink in with me how bullying affected me until later in my life. I knew that it affected me deeply but it wasn't until a little bit later that I realized how much it affect me and how much it was still very present," she said.

Comments

[GreatLakesSpada]

07:59 PM on 10/17/2011

I think Gaga's a total freak ;) And she employs herself that way but in a very interesting way (thus the name?). She could where a rubber suit, or stockings made out of wrapping paper if she wanted. But I definitely noticed that she has a big heart under all that weirdness.

Gaga, a lot of us agree with you and are on the side of anti-bullying, but we have no idea how to make it illegal, law-wise. ;) Just remain voicing against bullying.

[laaambchop]

11:58 PM on 10/29/2011

...it's assault; it's harassment...why is it different if it occurs with minors?

So, to answer my question, it is because it's a system's problem...

[GreatLakesSpada]

12:13 AM on 10/30/2011

Yes, that is true.
Hmm....will this mean that many people will be charged for causing death?

[Darren Spain]

11:50 PM on 09/27/2011

I am a huge fan of Lady Gaga, and I don't even listen to her music aside from when I hear pieces of it on the radio.

I've not seen a celebrity do as much Good as she's done in a long time. Say what you will about her music or crazy fashions, we need more Lady Gagas in the world.

[captain stew]

04:35 PM on 09/26/2011

Most bullying I've witnessed has rarely been the words, taunts, etc, what I've seen, especially with younger girls, is exclusion. Locally, there was a vicious form of bullying discovered only when things got so severe police were involved, that is, the "bullies" pretending to be bullied, reporting a student for taunting, threatening, etc, and the "bullied" student suspended, and forced to undergo counseling. Kids don't understand the long term view of things, and to them, their "world" is their peers and their relationships with them, and there is simply no way to advance them beyond that. Their brains don't understand consequences the way adults do. While the nature of bullying is inherently negative, how would you enforce any real action against it? There is no answer, because a logical one doesn't exist.

[Kay Nicks]

06:20 PM on 09/25/2011

Sadly, bullying has been around for ages...and will continue as long as human beings exist.
'He who trims himself to suit everyone will soon whittle himself away.' ~Raymond Hull
You were born an original, don't die a copy..

~Rest in Peace Jamey~

[Krystle Miller]

06:04 PM on 09/23/2011

I get so sick of pansy ass politically correct bullshit.
Bullying is part of survival of the fittest, toughen up. People have the right to be whatever sexual orientation they want but stand up for yourselves. Holy crap, if someone pushes you then push back. Killing themselves is just weak. It'd be better to get an asskickin and at least have but up a fight. Remember that it does get better, and use those experiences to make you a better person. Making bullying illegal is a against freedom of speech. Right, like we really need more laws. Persecuting kids for doing what kids have always done is ridiculous. Parents just need to get more involved with their own kids. It’s as simple as that. Parents, if your kid is the bully or if your kid is the bullied, then you as a parent are failing them in some way. Step up and pay more attention to your kid(s). If any law is passed because of bullying then it should be for mandatory sterilization of people that just keep (accidently) making more kids when they’re dropping the ball to begin with. That was joke; we don't really need more laws. The government is way too involved in everything else already. Relying on or blaming government/laws, teachers, other kids, or the media is just pathetic, lazy parenting. Pay attention parents !!

[debbeko1]

02:50 AM on 09/24/2011

Krystie, kids go to school for an education and to say they need to FIGHT when it is against school rules to fight is not a solution. To say kids who commit suicide is weak is to say you know what they were going through to which you cannot. Most kids in middle school have not even had sex yet and yet here we are making something bad into these kids because they are different. They are pointed out as different and bullied for it and this is wrong, any type of abuse and harassment is wrong. You can call it sticks and stones but it is much worse than that nowadays and we should not tolerate someone laughing at a handicapped person no more than we should tolerate someone laughing at the color of someone's skin no more than we should tolerate someone laughing at another for not fitting the mold as a "straight person"

[Atwill]

10:14 AM on 09/24/2011

While in some ways i agree becasue i did tell my kid to fight back, ut it was easier for him becasue he was / is a big person andwas already and REALLY into sports and body building, even as a teen. But it is not easy for smaller weaker kids. Most , if not all of the time when a kid is a bully, the parent is also one. Do not expect bully's parents to sep up. If anything, they will encourage their kid to BE a bully, msot of all against gays. Homophobia is taught.

[watch out world]

12:05 PM on 09/23/2011

You go, GaGa! I don't know how making bullying illegal would work exactly, but I think it is amazing that someone is speaking up and saying something! Everyone sits around and says things should change, but then nothing actually gets done about it. Thank you for being the voice of change, GaGa!

[debbeko1]

02:53 AM on 09/24/2011

Watch out world, we can start by not calling it bullying, we can call it harassment. This is what they call it when we adults are afforded the luxury of feeling 100 percent safe in our work environment and at home to where if someone is harassing us in any way we may call 911. Not kids in school, they have to sit there and repeatedly take it, also in the rules THEY cannot fight back or will get suspended. But no suspension for the instigators. I don't think this is harder than we think to fix....we have it working just fine in the work place. Could you imagine how rich you would be if someone kept calling you gay in the work place? Or laughed at you for being black? WOW yet schools cannot have the same law given to adults?

[Atwill]

10:17 AM on 09/24/2011

I agree. We adults can not say these things at work. Yet kids have to take it. You are right that those who fight back do get suspended. My son got suspended twice for fighting and defending his boyfriend whe he was being pushed around.

[tjones86]

11:39 AM on 09/23/2011

(911-Operator): 911 Emergency how can I help you?
(Victim of Bullying): Like OMG this guy name Greg, just called me a "fat a*s"
(911-Operator): (In disbelief) Hello? What is your emergency, ma'am?
(VOB): I'm a guy
(911): Ok sir, what's your emergency?
(VOB): I'm at 555 smith street and Greg Furryman just called me a "fat a*s"
(911): Are you hurt?
(VOB): My feelings yes
(911): Ok, i'll have the police come to your location so instead of going save lifes, they'll be there to mediate your "problem" ok?

[pegasus8595]

05:48 PM on 09/23/2011

You clearly don't take bullying seriously. It's not acceptable to torment someone for something they can't control. Bullying gays is no different from being racist or sexist.
You don't understand how words can destroy a person. Just because YOUR life is great doesn't mean that others' are. Have some compassion.

[debbeko1]

03:00 AM on 09/24/2011

tjones, you don't get it. It is not right to harass people and THANKFULLY you have the right to call the police if you feel harassed. Children at school cannot do anything but leave their complaints up to the schools to which they keep the punishment private from you by privacy laws they say, so when you see the instigator still sitting at school, you know his punishment wasn't too bad. Making a mockery of this serious situations is pathetic but you obviously are young and do not know yet. We are not saying you cannot be STUPID we are saying that gay kids are being called slurs and this is wrong. Just like someone using the N word, should not be tolerated AT ALL. ZERO tolerance on things you CANNOT CHANGE. Period. I wish you had compassion we need more kind people in the world.

[CR90]

05:03 AM on 09/23/2011

I think this is tragic, but I must point out that LGBT people are FAR from the only people bullied. I'm straight and I was bullied all trough school for being smart and wearing my pants at my belly button. What happened to this kid is sad, but I think making bullying illegal is the wrong way to go. You need to teach them right from wrong, not make them criminals.

[Atwill]

10:21 AM on 09/24/2011

I agree up to a point. I was also teased for being a nerd. under weight, glasses, straight A student, the whole bit. A compleat poindexter. but we need strickter punishments. and adults need to step up.

[Jordin Chrome]

12:08 PM on 09/24/2011

I agree with you! Better punishments! Also, what would happen when it's just a prank and the teachers or staff do not see it that way? Where is the line drawn? I don't agree it should be illegal but definitely more punishment.

[CR90]

08:43 PM on 09/24/2011

Agreed.

[edwardandersons]

01:54 AM on 09/23/2011

Con't -
Alot of times this reality is typical of any young adult growing up and not needing of someone like GAGA whose message is do whatever makes you feel good. Lady GAGA is not someone to idolize since her videos are way to pornographic for young listeners to follow. She openly mocks Jesus Christ by her lyrics and use of imagery as a nun engaged in sexual deviance with upside down crosses on her body as her way to show freedom of expression. She has been exposed recently with her Japan charity which she supposedly was partaking in the funds collected. Her openness to homosexuality seems good on the surface but going by her videos seems to really be another way to mock Christianity and God. She seems to be a person who is very self centered and always concerned with being famous as opposed to having any real concern for the children she is affecting. She indoctrinates children by having them idolize her through her music and exposes them to sexual imagery which should be for adult eyes only.

[edwardandersons]

01:26 AM on 09/23/2011

It is truly sad that this boy committed suicide because of being a homosexual; I too dealth with coming to terms with homosexuality and it is difficult in a straight world. My only concern is Lady GAGA's true intentions which are in my opinion lacking any real authenticity. She has built her persona on victimhood catering to kids who feel lost and needing of an escape from the reality which they live. Alot of times this reality is just typical of any young adult growing up but

[debbeko1]

03:14 AM on 09/24/2011

Atleast you care enough to hope her intentions are honorable but she is young, and expressive and at first I thought she was overboard, and still don't get the costumes but I realized I was being judgemental with her being different and now I have changed. She is young and that makes her happy so who am I to say anything, I believe her intentions are true though because she has done other things for the gay community and also she is rich now so she could go get pedicures and shop instead of try to make these changes. Just my opinion.

[eve mahar]

12:43 AM on 09/23/2011

Go Mother Monster! I am so proud of you and everything you do for us. Together we will change the world. Love you MM.

[debbeko1]

12:17 AM on 09/23/2011

Thank you to Lady Gaga for her fight for equal rights for all people. If they make bullying a hate crime maybe THEN more parents would teach their kids not to be bullies, because at the moment....it is not working and some parents are big bullies themselves.

[GirlInNYC]

12:05 AM on 09/23/2011

Good for Gaga.

[Jon Hand]

11:49 PM on 09/22/2011

Shut up Gaga.

How would the law define bullying? If a boy calls his little sister a boogerhead, is that bullying? What would be the punishment for such a "hate crime?" And what makes a hate crime worse than a regular crime? If a white guy kills and Asian guy, that's a hate crime. If a white guy kills a white guy, that's just a crime. What idiocy. Homicide is homicide.

Bullying is a real, hard fact of life. If everyone walked around on eggshells so as not to offend anyone, we'd never make any progress as a race.

[debbeko1]

12:20 AM on 09/23/2011

Jon I am sure you do agree that bullying and calling someone the F word (referring to a gay person) should not be allowed in school, don't you? Because at the moment, boys that have even a slight feminine or "different" look to them as what one would consider normal, is getting called this word in school and most schools (and parents) are doing nothing about it. I am sure you would not want this to be allowed to happen to your son, or your relatives right? We DO agree on this right? It isn't about a brother and sister having a fight, this is a serious situation that is happening EVERY single day in schools, and these young boys, gay or not, are having to go through this and be called this. Do you have a better idea of how we can stop this and save our sons from commiting suicide, if not, maybe you need to let GAGA talk.

[watch out world]

12:02 PM on 09/23/2011

A better name for JOn would have been Richard.

[Onion City]

10:26 PM on 09/22/2011

I agree with that. No matter the age. Kids start to bully in kindergarten nowadays. And they can tell the difference