Lady Gaga Launches the Born This Way Foundation, to Fight Bullying

While she has her critics within the LGBT blogosphere (some of whom strike me as jealous of Gaga's boldness that outshines their own), Lady Gaga continues to put her money where her mouth is and to use her celebrity without hesitation to fight the good fight against bullying. Personally, she won me over at the National Equality March - see the image at left - when I was fortunate enough to hear her speak at a vantage point about 20 feet from the stage thanks to my Bilerico Project press credentials. But I digress. Bullying in all forms - but especially anti-gay bullying - continues to be a nationwide problem. Perhaps I an super sensitive based on bullying I experienced personally in junior and senior high school where I was at times called a fag and worse. The reality is that NO child or youth deserves to be abused in our public schools. To this end, Lady Gaga has launched the Born This Way Foundation to work to end this unfairness. Here are some highlights from The Advocate:

Lady Gaga continues her campaign to promote self-acceptance and end antigay bullying by announcing the launch of her Born This Way Foundation, reports the Associated Press.

The entertainer will use the title of her hit pro-LGBT anthem and best-selling album as the name of the non-profit that will focus on youth empowerment and "issues like self-confidence, well-being, anti-bullying, mentoring and career development."

Gaga will personally direct the foundation, along with and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta. "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," Gaga says in a statement.

The foundation will work with several partners, including the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, the California Endowment, and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University.

The foundation will be officially launched sometime next year and an advisory board is expected to be announced soon.