GAGA & CHER SING AT NEW YORK PRIDE

In the wake of same-sex marriage victories in the US Supreme Court, this past weekend’s New York City Pride was particularly special for many in the city’s LGBT community.

The celebrations were also heightened by an appearance at the start of the weekend’s Pride events by Lady Gaga on Friday and a closing performance by Cher to end it all off.

In what was her first time on stage since she cancelled her world tour due to a hip injury almost five months ago, the singer, who was not in a wheelchair, thanked the gay community for its support.

“When I was in high school and grade school and younger, I was considered to be an outcast and I just couldn’t find my place,” said Gaga. “Where did I fit in? And I look back on that time and I remember feeling that I was cut from a different mould.”

“There was a particular crowd who did accept me. There was a particular crowd who made room for me at their table, who held me up when I felt I couldn’t, who loved me for exactly who I was. It was you.”

“It was you that saved me. You saved me, my friends in the LGBT community time and time again,” she continued. “And I saw God for the first real time in all of you.”

Gaga went on to say: “My LGBT friends and fans always said to me, ‘I knew Lady Gaga when.’ Now I get to say that I knew you when. Now I get to say I knew you when you suffered, when you felt unequal, when you felt there was nothing to look forward to… Look who the star is now.”

She then sang a modified version of the American national anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner; changing some of the words and instead singing: “Oh, say does that star-spangled flag of pride yet wave/ O’er the land of the free and a home for the gays”.

On Sunday, following a performance by Deborah Cox, Cher was introduced onto the stage of the Dance on the Pier party by actress Whoopi Goldberg.

“There is a queen coming to your stage tonight,” proclaimed Goldberg.

Sporting red hair, the 67-year-old singer and long-time supporter of the gay community performed hits including Believe and Strong Enough.

Earlier in the week at a Pride event Cher said to her gay fans: “I have had ups and downs in my career, and you guys have never left me.”

Cher will release her first studio album in 12 years, Closer to the Truth, in September.

Watch Gaga sing the Star-Spangled Banner below.

Watch snippets of the performances by Deborah Cox and Cher at the Dance on the Pier party below.