Lady Gaga Launches Movement

Music and performance sensation Lady Gaga brought her mother to work Wednesday with the launch of Born This Way Foundation at Harvard University.

Cynthia Germanotta, Gaga's mother and longtime New Yorker, stood with her arm around her famous daughter's waist in announcing the movement and said from the stage that even though they've formed a foundation: "We are not philanthropists."

Gaga, 25, whose real name is Stephanie Germanotta, hugged her petite mom: "We aren't philanthropists, but we are good friends."

The pair emphasized that the mission of the foundation—or as Gaga prefers to call it—the movement, is to empower youth and bring them to a place of bravery in their lives, and thereby change the world for the better. They spoke out about bullying as well.

(Chesterfield Patch users—do you think this will work here? Tell us in comments below.)

When a psychologist who was part of a Harvard panel at the announcement ventured to talk about what it took to make these changes in society—citing education and training of teachers and parents, Gaga shot it down in her characteristic pull-no-punches style.

"I don't think a lot of teachers give a (expletive)" Gaga said to the youthful crowd. "I don't believe they have the answers; I believe that you do." There were cheers and applause.

She called for youth, students, to step up to the plate and intervene among friends, peers and strangers when negative, bullying behavior shows itself.

"Say, hey, that was a little much," Gaga said.

The Born This Way Foundation (named after one of her hit songs) intends to have "parties" Gaga said, in order to share tools youth needed to spread the message of a kinder, gentler, accepting world. Her mother described the "parties" as "programs."

"Programs sounds too much like school," Gaga quipped. "Parties!" The audience cheered.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius sat on stage with Gaga for the launch at 4 p.m. Wednesday. She asked how Gaga would use her 20 million Twitter followers and other abilities to foster the foundation's goals.

Gaga described how if a song about dancing (Just Dance) can make a global impact, it may be possible to do the same with something that would change the world for the better, like the mission of the Foundation.

The mission, from the Foundation website:

"To foster a more accepting society, where differences are embraced and individuality is celebrated. The Foundation is dedicated to creating a safe community that helps connect young people with the skills and opportunities they need to build a braver, kinder world.

We believe that everyone has the right to feel safe, to be empowered and to make a difference in the world. Together, we will move towards acceptance, bravery and love."

How will this play in the Midwest here, in Chesterfield? Tell Patch what you think about all this, in comments below, or email Patch editor at jean.whitney@patch.com