I love Kate too, but this is GaGa's day in the sun, so let's not let her meat (suit) get cold.
I mean really... I looked at that pic, and thought "So What?". That's about as much of an impression as it made on me. If I would have been the photographer, I would have thought "Bad Idea" and discarded the negatives.
As for her Gay Rights advocacy, what's that got to do with the songs? If I want a singing politician, I'll watch John Ashcroft sing "Let The Eagle Soar" on YouTube. Are the songs and their video clips good? Really, that's all I look for. Or maybe what I look for first. Her videos are pretty good. Her songs have their high points, but they have awful moments, too. There are bits I like, and bits I wince when I listen to. Since the two cancel each other out, I've been passing her over for a while.
I do like to write about her occasionally, though... if only to ask the question:
How can such average ideas have become so popular? That part still mystifies me.