Lady Gaga clarifies whether she ‘represents’ the LGBTQ community
"I feel that it is right and true to say this..."
Words: Jamie Tabberer; picture: MGM
Lady Gaga has said she does not “represent” LGBTQ people but is rather a “supporter” of the community.
The clarification came in a new interview about Gaga’s latest film House of Gucci, where the cultural icon was asked by The Advocate what it means to be able to represent LGBTQ people at the Academy Awards.
To this, the ‘Bad Romance’ singer confirms that she does not represent the community or “speak” on its behalf.
(Side note: however the Born This Way foundation founder does or doesn’t label herself and her experiences, with lyrics like “no matter gay, straight or bi, lesbian, transgender life” [from 2011’s ‘Born This Way’], and her 2010 meat dress protesting the US ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ military policy, the star is a fantastic LGBTQ ally and icon!)
“Without the LGBTQ+ community, I would not be who I am”
The interviewer says to Gaga, 35: “Already the film is being talked about in terms of awards, and of course, you’re being talked about in those terms, which is well-deserved.
“It’s so important, that space, especially the Academy Awards, is not super visible and has not been really an accepting place – maybe that’s the wrong word – but we haven’t seen a lot of LGBTQ+ representation at the Academy Awards. So with the film, and A Star Is Born, your presence there – what does it mean to you to be able to be in that space and represent for that community?”
To this, Gaga responds: “You know, I would like to say because I feel that it is right and true to say this: I am a supporter of the LGBTQ+ community but I do not speak for them. They do not need me to speak for them.
“I am here to cheer on a radical love and a radical joy that I had the privilege of witnessing since I was a very young girl. And without the LGBTQ+ community, I would not be who I am.
“What I will say is, I’m not here to represent that community because they do not need me to. But I am here to always speak out about what is right and true for all of humanity. That people be loved. That oppression and hatred be a thing of the past. But that requires all of us, and also to know our place.”
The statement follows Gaga, in 2009, answering the question ‘are you bisexual?’ from Barbara Walters by saying: “I do like women. I’ve only been in love with men, I’ve never been in love with a woman. That’s really what the song [‘Poker Face’] was all about. Why when I was with my boyfriend was I fantasising about women?”
She later added: “I’ve certainly had sexual relationships with women, yes.”
In 2013, she also told Attitude: “I am bisexual, I’ve said it before I’ll say it again, I don’t need to – I’m sorry if this is a bit vulgar – I don’t need to eat pussy in front of people for the whole world to take me seriously.”
Nevertheless, in 2017 Gaga told that year’s class of RuPaul’s Drag Race queens on an episode of Untucked: “I’m not a gay woman, you know? And [it’s] that touchy sort of subject where ― can you stand up for people that you are not necessarily fully part of that community in a way that you can understand what you all go through?”