Lady Gaga does not represent any form of transphobia. On March 10, the singer responded to the hate trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney received for posting a photo of her and Gaga on Instagram. Although the photo was taken at an event on February 29, she shared it on International Women's Day, which prompted transphobic comments on the post.
In solidarity with Mulvaney, Gaga shared the photo on her Instagram on March 10 and began responding, calling those "shocking" comments a "backlash."
"This hatred is violence," she wrote. "'Backlash' means people who love or respect Dylan and me don't like what we do. That's not backlash. That's hate."
However, Gaga admitted that the hate wasn't "surprising" given how much work needs to be done to protect trans lives. "I feel very protective at this moment, not only of Dylan, but of the trans community, who continue to lead with endless grace and inspiration in the face of constant degradation, intolerance, and physical, verbal, and emotional violence," she explain.
While Gaga admitted she couldn't speak for the entire trans community, she expressed her hope that "all women can come together" to respect each other on International Women's Day.
"People of all gender identities and races deserve peace and dignity," she said. “May we all come together in a place of love, acceptance, warmth, and welcome. May we all stand up and respect the complexities and challenges of trans life—the ones we don’t know, but can seek understanding and compassion for. I so love People, don't allow hate to be called "backlash." People deserve better."
Mulvaney first rose to fame in 2022 after releasing her "Days of Girlhood" video series on TikTok, documenting her transformation. The following year, her social media partnership with Budweiser became a national topic, and she has been the target of hate and harassment from conservative leaders ever since.
Considering Gaga's support for the LGBTQ+ community throughout her career, it's no surprise that she came to Mulvaney's defense. In 2011, her hit "Born This Way" became the first No. 1 song to use the word "transgender" in its lyrics, and seven years later she became the first to sing the word during the Super Bowl halftime show. people.
