Fifteen hundred students from 10 British Columbia schools (and one from New York) were featured in a YouTube video dancing in pink shirts to the Lady Gaga song “Born This Way.” The video was intended to promote the anti-bullying Pink Shirt Day February 29. The video went ahead despite objections by a group called Burnaby Parents’ Voice. The group said that the project violates B.C. School Act requirements that the “highest morality” be taught in schools, since Lady Gaga’s original video includes scenes of simulated group sex, masturbation, semi-nudity, a birth and many crotch shots; they warned that promoting such music sexualizes children and encourages risky sexual behaviour. The group also argued that schools should be secular and not endorse any one worldview, but the song’s lyrics promote views that “are offensive to most religions.” The group also suggested that the video would not reduce bullying or send a positive message of acceptance for children who are overweight or anorexic, who don’t dance well or who object to the video. Parent James Collin said, “School should teach critical thinking about media messages, not use kids to sell them. No wonder families are leaving the public schools.”
