IT'S COOL TO BE KIND >>>

Lady Gaga's Born This Way Ball Tour arrived at the Tacoma Dome Monday, Jan. 14 and with it, the debut of the Born Brave Bus tour. Hours before the concert, hundreds of fans thronged two tents adjacent to the colorful bus where they played games, made videos, and learned about social services.

The Born This Way Foundation, the non-profit co-founded by Gaga's Mother, Cynthia Germanotta, sponsored the bus tour. "This isn't an anti-bullying campaign," says Bobby Campbell, who oversees Gaga's global marketing. "We're about self-empowerment. We're here to help people be brave - brave enough to stand up against the crowd, to be oneself no matter who that is. We want to be a connector, to catalyze people into kindness and bravery, and to make a safe space for kids, although we've never had bullying at a Lady Gaga concert."

One connection is with Carl Wilson, who works with Tacoma's Comprehensive Life Services, which offers behavioral and mental health services. "We hope to reach kids by showing them how they can receive help; to help them become self-determined; to recognize strengths in themselves," says Wilson.

Born Brave Bus at the Tacoma Dome

Cynthia Germanotta in front of the Born Brave Bus at the Tacoma Dome

Lady Gaga gave small talk, group toasted, then Gaga smashed the  bottle on front of bus at the Tacoma Dome. 

John Anderson, a student at South Puget Sound Community College, danced, waiting for the crowds at the booth he manned, "Share your story."

"The message is, be brave," says Anderson. "How cool is that? Make a video, share your story. It's the coolest thing ever."

To the thrill of the "Little Monsters," fans who had camped out for up to three days, Lady Gaga arrived, hugging everyone within reach. With her Mother, Gaga toured the tents, and christened the Bus, braking open a bottle of champagne.

"I was so excited I thought the world was going to end before I got here," says Delia, a fan from Portland. "I think the bus tour is really important to inspire youth and bravery."

Little Monsters outside the Born Brave at the Tacoma Dome.

Bailey, left, and Samantha praised the Born Brave Bus as well as Lady Gaga's music outside the Tacoma Dome.

Little Monsters wouldn't crack a smile outside before the Lady Gaga concert at the Tacoma Dome.

"We want students to be brave for themselves as well as for others," says Hayley Thompson and Brittany Tyson, with the National Association of School Psychologists. "Sometimes being brave means being brave for someone other than yourself." It means, stopping someone from being picked on, no matter who they are.

As Tyson spoke, the whirr of an engine interrupted. A plane flew overhead with a banner by the Florida Family Association, "Not Born That Way." But nothing diminished the enthusiasm of Gaga's costumed fans who were, well, brave.  

Photography by Paul Murray/Murray Photos

LINK: More photos from the Born Brave Bus at Tacoma Dome