Fridae

It seems Katy Perry has come some way since her "Ur So Gay" days in 2008 when she attracted criticism from the gay press and music reviewers in the US for perpetuating anti-gay prejudice.

This week via her Twitter account, the newly wedded singer dedicated her new "Firework" video to the It Gets Better Project aimed at encouraging gay youth to not give up on life and to endure the bullying and intolerance they face in school or at home. Created and launched by openly gay sex advice columnist and author Dan Savage and his husband Terry in September, the Youtube project has since attracted thousands of contributions from regular folks as well as celebrities such as Adam Lambert, Neil Patrick Harris, Ellen DeGeneres and US President Barack Obama.

Perry tweeted on Oct 28, "I am officially dedicating my new video to #itgetsbetter, because everyone has the spark to be a FIREWORK."

Set against lyrics like "You're a firework / Come on let your colors burst", the song's theme is about personal acceptance and empowerment. The video which was filmed in Budapest, Hungary, features a boy witnessing his father abusing his mother, a young woman who feels self-conscious about her body at a pool party,  a cancer-stricken youth and two gay youths who kiss on a crowded dancefloor. As the chorus begins, fireworks are seen shooting from Perry's chest and from the characters' chest as they find their spark and courage to do what they want.

"Firework" is the third single from Perry's Teenage Dream album.