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Lady Gaga Defends Cole Goforth, a Teen Sent Home From School for Wearing Her T-Shirt

By Steven Avalos Posted Apr 7th 2010 04:24PM

Cole Goforth, a 15-year-old Tennessee high school student, was sent home on Monday because his T-shirt was causing a "disruption." The T-shirt in question -- Lady Gaga merch from her 'Monster Ball' tour with the words "I ♥ LADY GAY GAY" emblazoned across the chest. The incident has attracted the attention of local news teams and Web sites like The Advocate, alleging the school has violated Goforth's freedom of speech. But wait, there's more! Naturally, Lady Gaga heard of the incident and has taken to her Twitter to defend the young fan.

Teen Sent Home for Wearing Lady Gaga Shirt

Teen Sent Home for Wearing Lady Gaga Shirt

With nearly three-and-a-half million followers on Twitter, Gaga's words elevated media interest in the story, and we imagine they will probably make Cole feel a little better about the whole situation. He has already tweeted about the controversy. "Individuality, self-expression, and truly being comfortable with yourself is something that runs so deep to me, I could cry talking about it," he wrote.

According to NBC affiliate WSMV-TV, "Cole Goforth's mother said the school is violating her son's freedom of speech and expression rights because kids who wear religious shirts and rebel flag shirts aren't sent home. The school said a shirt he wore is a disruption."

Cole's own take? "I don't think my sexuality is widely accepted around here, so of course they are going to single me out," he told Nashville's Local WSMV-TV.

"Thank you so much Lady Gaga, it means alot to hear that coming from you. Your an inspiration to me, and countless others," Goforth wrote on Twitter.

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Lady Gaga Photos

Lady Gaga attends MAC VIVA GLAM launch photocall on March 1, 2010 in London, England. See more photos of Lady Gaga. >>

Mike Marsland/WireImage.com

WireImage.com

CooCoo for GaGa

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 05: Lady Gaga performs at the LG Arena on March 5, 2010 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Steve Thorne/Redferns) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga

CooCoo for GaGa

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 05: Lady Gaga performs at the LG Arena on March 5, 2010 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Steve Thorne/Redferns) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga

CooCoo for GaGa

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 05: Lady Gaga performs at the LG Arena on March 5, 2010 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Steve Thorne/Redferns) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga

CooCoo for GaGa

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 05: Lady Gaga performs at the LG Arena on March 5, 2010 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Steve Thorne/Redferns) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga

CooCoo for GaGa

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 05: Lady Gaga performs at the LG Arena on March 5, 2010 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Steve Thorne/Redferns) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga

CooCoo for GaGa

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 05: Lady Gaga performs at the LG Arena on March 5, 2010 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Steve Thorne/Redferns) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga

CooCoo for GaGa

BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM - MARCH 05: Lady Gaga performs at the LG Arena on March 5, 2010 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Steve Thorne/Redferns) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga

CooCoo for GaGa

Editorial Use ONLY - NO MERCHANDISE. NO PUBLICATION BEYOND APRIL 5 2010 Lady Gaga performs at the LG Arena on March 5, 2010 in Birmingham, England. Lady Gaga Peforms At The LG Arena In Birmingham Birmingham, England United Kingdom March 5, 2010 Photo by Jason Sheldon/WireImage.com To license this image (59811223), contact WireImage.com

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©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Lady Gaga at Buddah Bar NON-EXCLUSIVE March 02, 2010 Job: 100303P2 London, England www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com [KGC-147]

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©BAUER-GRIFFIN.COM Lady Gaga at Buddah Bar NON-EXCLUSIVE March 02, 2010 Job: 100303P2 London, England www.bauergriffin.com www.bauergriffinonline.com [KGC-104]

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Comments

(28)

Thursday 08 April

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Listen here you little punk (SSSSTEWART4)...wearing a t-shirt is not an act of "militant and get in [your] face". A child wearing a t-shirt is simply that, an article of clothing. If you want to wear t-shirts that promote your straightness...go right ahead. No one here is getting in your face by rocking a Lady Gaga tee. Get over yourself and learn some manners...

So f**k a sheep and get your intolerance out of your system!

I am PRO HOMO and PRO LADY GAGA!!

Thursday 08 April

By Pam

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All schools should just go to Uniform Wearing and we would be done with all this.

Thursday 08 April

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SOON as I saw this was in TN it all made sense. If we could get rid of the South, the National IQ would go up a good 20 points.

Wednesday 28 July

By Ivy

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First of all peple in the South are not dumb. I am sure that you just believe anything you want to because you have NO BRAIN. People like you make me sick.
I am from Georgia and I would never ever change that!!!

Thursday 08 April

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First of all, you truly sound like an ignorant homophobe. You say the way the kid's parent is dealing with him is "disgusting". As far as this kid's mom sticking up for and supporting her son, well I have to ask you as any good, caring, loving, responsible parent would do, what do you think she should do? Disown her son becuase he is gay or "hate on" her own flesh and blood? Or better yet, try and "change" him with religion? As far as the Catholic's go, its ok for a priest to abuse a young man or boy (deaf ones too, whoo-hoo) but its "disgusting" to be gay. Hello!

Thursday 15 April

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Strange that some of you can sit in judgement of school, town or state and yet you don't want anyone to judge Cole. School dress codes have been in effect long before Cole was born. This is not a school issue, but a county guideline, and yet the school will be defamed and smeared while Cole gets his interviews and his ultimate intent as his friend stated of "partying with Lady Gaga". If you want to be gay, be gay....change your shirt the minute you hit the parking lot, but adhere to school rules including the dress codes, or be homeschooled. School is for education...not your sexual orientation rally.

Friday 09 April

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lady gaga is cool but the shirt that says lady gay gay is superrrrrrrr funny (no offence to and people who arent straight) but in tennesee the make fun of gay ppl. soooo just ask bruno

Saturday 10 April

By britneygaga93

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I don't think this is right at all. I don't understand how everyone at school can be so out and open, and wear "I

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