Pop icon Lady Gaga has taken a strong stance against the negative responses to an International Women's Day post she was featured in last week with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney. In a lengthy Instagram message on Monday, the Grammy- and Oscar-winning singer-songwriter called out the "vitriol and hatred" directed at Mulvaney, emphasizing the need for society to "make room for transgender lives to be cherished and upheld by all of us."
The initial post, shared on Friday from Mulvaney's Instagram account, included several images and a video of Mulvaney and Lady Gaga with a message that said, "Happy international women's day." The post garnered more than 340,000 likes and over 3,200 comments, many of which misgendered Mulvaney, a 27-year-old trans advocate, actress, and social media star who gained national recognition after chronicling her gender transition on TikTok.
"It's appalling to me that a post about National Women's Day by Dylan Mulvaney and me would be met with such vitriol and hatred," Lady Gaga wrote on Instagram, where she has more than 56 million followers. "This is not backlash. This is hatred."
While the singer expressed her shock at some of the reactions, she noted that they were "not surprising given the immense work that it's obvious we still have to do as a society to make room for transgender lives to be cherished and upheld by all of us."
Lady Gaga, known for her advocacy for the LGBTQ+ community, particularly through her album "Born This Way" and her work with the Born This Way Foundation, expressed her protective feelings towards Mulvaney and the trans community as a whole. "I feel very protective in this moment, not only of Dylan, but of the trans community who continues to lead the way with their endless grace and inspiration in the face of constant degradation, intolerance, and physical, verbal, and mental violence," she wrote.
The singer concluded her message by expressing her hope that all women would come together to honor each other on International Women's Day and continue to do so "until THE DAY that all women are celebrated equally." Mulvaney responded to Lady Gaga's post, writing in the comments, "You mean the world to me. Love ya."
Mulvaney's partnership with Bud Light on a March Madness social media campaign in April 2022 sparked a viral, right-wing hate campaign against her. In June, she addressed the onslaught in a TikTok video, revealing that she had been subjected to "more bullying and transphobia than I could have ever imagined."
Lady Gaga's powerful message in support of Mulvaney and the trans community has resonated with many fans, who have called out the hate and transphobia in the comments section of her Instagram post. One user wrote, "Everyone saying 'no gaga' 'she became woke' lol have yall not been here for born this way or her whole career basically? "
Another follower responded, "Thank you for this!! I honestly was left speechless when I read some of the comments. I can't believe that what seems to be the majority of the gp have so much hatred towards the trans community."
As the debate surrounding transgender rights and inclusion continues to be a divisive issue in society, Lady Gaga's unwavering support for the trans community serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of allyship and the need for compassion and understanding. Her message underscores the work that still needs to be done to create a more inclusive and accepting world for all individuals, regardless of their gender identity.
