Lady Gaga said she would “take a bullet” for the LGBT+ community when speaking at a rally to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots.
The actor and singer made a surprise appearance at the Stonewall Inn on Friday 28 June, wearing a rainbow-themed outfit.
She delivered an impassioned speech, saying: "True love – true, true love – is when you would take a bullet for someone, and you know that I would take a bullet for you any day of the week."
Gaga went on to say she felt “honoured and privileged” to be there, to which the crowd cheered in response.
“This community has fought and continued to fight a war of acceptance, a war of tolerance, and the most relentless bravery. You are the definition of courage – do you know that?”
"This is a celebration of all of you in every single way,” she said. “I’m trembling speaking to you, you’re making me nervous.”
Seemingly through tears, she made reference to two of her songs, saying: “You were born this way, and you’re a superstar.”
She also addressed her own sexuality, saying: “I may not to some people be a part of this community, even though I like girls sometimes.”
In 2009, Gaga publicly came out as bisexual in an interview with Barbara Walters.
She paid homage to LGBT+ activists of the past, including trans activist Sylvia Rivera, San Francisco mayor Harvey Milk, and gay rights and Aids activist Marsha P Johnson. The latter was one of the key figures during the Stonewall uprising on 28 June 1969 which marked the beginning of the modern-day LGBT+ activism in the US.
Gaga also showed her support for transgender rights, saying: “We find ourselves at a time when attacks on the trans community are on an increasing rise each day. I will not tolerate this. And I know neither will you.”
The “Born This Way” singer is not the only star to use her platform to promote LGBT+ rights during Pride month.
On 17 June Taylor Swift released her single “You Need To Calm Down”, the video to which featured prominent LGBT+ celebrities including Ellen DeGeneres, RuPaul, Laverne Cox, Ryan Reynolds, the cast of Queer Eye. The response was mixed as some have argued the song allows her to profit from performative allyship despite not being openly LGBT+ herself.
