Lady Gaga has publicly defended a 15-year-old openly gay Tennessee student who says he was discriminated against when he was sent home from school to change out of his ‘I Heart Lady Gay Gay’ t-shirt.

Cole Goforth says the school had tolerated him wearing similar shirts in the past, but school board member Danny Weeks says the ‘Gay Gay’ top was the last straw: “We’ve had a few disruptions the last few days, and we thought the slogan on that shirt would continue to escalate those incidents that had occurred.”

Lady Gaga took to Twitter upon hearing of her fan’s classroom drama. “Thank u for wearing your tee-shirt proud at school, you make me so proud, at the monsterball, you are an inspiration to us all. I love you,” she typed.

“When I hear that a little monster was discriminated against* BY TEACHERS … It reminds me of my commitment + love for u, and the deep unconditional devotion I feel to write music that will liberate you from prejudice.

“I love you cole, you just be yourself. You’re perfect the way God made you.”