Following an awful string of shootings in the US over the past couple of weeks, Lady Gaga has spoken out. In a Facebook post (August 9), she expresses her sympathy for “those who were taken from us too soon and to their families, loved ones, and communities who are left to grieve”, but also pledges to show her support in a more concrete way.
Working with DonorsChoose.org and the Born This Way Foundation (the non-profit she formed with her mum, Cynthia Germanotta, in 2011), Gaga is going to be funding classroom projects in the cities of Dayton, El Paso, and Gilroy, California. 14 classrooms will benefit in Dayton, 125 in El Paso, and 23 in Gilroy.
Each of these cities have recently experienced fatal mass shootings, beginning with Gilroy on July 28. El Paso and Dayton were targeted on August 3 and August 4, respectively.
“In this moment, I want to channel my confusion, frustration, and fury into hope,” writes Lady Gaga in the post. “Hope that we are there for each other and for ourselves.”
Of course, this kind of support for infrastructure (where the government has repeatedly failed) is valuable, but the singer also stresses the need for individual support. “Surviving and recovering from these tragedies also means prioritizing your mental health and checking in on your loved ones,” she adds.
“If you’re struggling, please be brave and tell a trusted someone. Don’t be scared to ask for help, I beg you. If you see a loved one struggling, please be brave and reach out, remind them it’s ok to not be ok, and listen to them. We cannot turn away from ourselves. We cannot turn away from our loved ones. We need each other. Don’t turn away.”