Singer launches Born This Way foundation with Oprah Winfrey, self-help guru Deepak Chopra and politician Kathleen Sebelius
Lady Gaga has descended on Harvard University to launch her foundation aimed at empowering young people. The singer was joined by Oprah Winfrey, self-help guru Deepak Chopra and Kathleen Sebelius, the US health and human services secretary, to kick off the Born This Way foundation.
Gaga spoke to more than 1,100 students and other guests, urging them to "challenge meanness and cruelty. I believe that if you have revolutionary potential, you must make the world a better place." Her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, inspired her to start the foundation and will be its president.
Gaga's representative said the singer has made a $1.2m personal contribution to the foundation, named after her 2011 album and hit song. The song promotes self-empowerment and has become an anthem for gay pride.
Winfrey said she supports the foundation because its message aligns with many of her core beliefs, including kindness, compassion, empowerment and acceptance. The famous talk-show host interviewed the singer on stage about the foundation.
Gaga, who has said she was the victim of bullying as a teenager, said the idea for the foundation grew out of the dialogue created after Born This Way was released. She said she received a deluge of letters and emails from people who said such things as, "I want there to be more tolerance in the universe. I want there to be more acceptance."
Gaga said her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, inspired her to start the foundation. Germanotta will serve as its president.
"She is the sole reason that I am here today. She has always believed in me. She has always been my support, and she makes me want to inject that sense of family and support into the world," Gaga said.
She said the foundation is working with a new media agency to create a social media environment that fosters the foundation's goals.
"I want this to be an organisation where you all feel involved," she said.