TORONTO - The efforts of one Toronto school to end bullying have caught the attention of a pop superstar.
Lady Gaga, known for her outrageous costumes and her strong support for gay teens, delivered a personal message to students at the Etobicoke School of the Arts Friday morning.
The personal video message from the artist known for the smash hit "Born this way" praised the efforts of the school and especially its student council president Jacques St. Pierre for bringing the issue of bullying to the forefront.
"Born this way" has become the anthem for the LBGQT (lesbian, bi-sexual, gay, queer and transgender) community.
"I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you for being such a strong advocate of the LBGT community in your school. There should be more little monsters like you," said the singer, who refers to her fans as "little monsters."
"It is important that we push the boundaries of love and acceptance. It is important that we spread tolerance and equality for all students."
Gaga also pledged to work hard to "make bullying a hate crime."
The video came after St. Pierre, a victim of bullying himself, sent a personal plea to the star for her own reflections on bullying.
The video was the featured message at an assembly spearheaded by St. Pierre, who wanted to bring the subject of bullying to the forefront.
"I even lost one of my best friends because he joined in with the bullies," he told the hushed audience. "I felt alone. It was a really scary time."
School principal Rob MacKinnon said the video was kept a secret from the rest of the students until the morning event.
He said it was a "very powerful experience" when they played the clip for the school, adding "everyone was weepy throughout."
With files from The Canadian Press
