Pop star Lady Gaga has made a somber plea to U.S. senators to repeal the law barring gays and lesbians from serving openly in the military.
In a video released Friday, Lady Gaga calls on the Senate to repeal the discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, as well as her fans to get calling their legislators with the same message.
Gaga singles out Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), in the video, demanding they withdraw the divisive policy.
“14,000 Americans have been discharged from the armed forces, refused the right to serve their country and sent home regardless of honorable service or how valuable they may have been to their units,” Gaga says in the video.
She details why she feels DADT is a critical issue, and relates the stories of discharged soldiers that have been ousted under the ban:
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In the video, Gaga asked viewers to contact their senators and lobby for the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy — and then proceeded to call the offices of both New York Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand on camera.
Unfortunately, nobody in Schumer’s office picked up the phone, and Gillibrand’s voicemail was full, but reportedly, Gaga connected with both Senators later.
Gillibrand posted, via Twitter: @ladygaga “Thx for calling. I couldn’t agree more and am helping lead the fight to repeal DADT.”
And to both Schumer and Gillibrand, Gaga posted, via Twitter: “Thankyou for responding, it means so much that you support us on this issue. Let’s get this passed. Talk monday?”
The Senate is expected to take up the Defense Authorization Bill this week, the same bill that includes language authorizing the repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said last week he would schedule a vote on the bill.
A spokesperson for McCain said last week that the Arizona senator intends to support a filibuster of the bill.
In her video, Gaga blasted McCain for what she called his “shameless filibuster,” and called upon her fans to contact their Senator prior to Tuesday’s vote in the Senate. [More information here.]
Last week, Gaga attended the MTV Video Music Awards, chaperoned by four gay and lesbian soldiers who had been discharged under the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (pictured, above left).
