Lady Gaga's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Activism Is Getting Results

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Lady Gaga's activism works.

Just ask the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, a group dedicated to "ending discrimination and harassment of military personnel affected by 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,'" the policy that prevents gays from serving openly in the military, according to its Web site.
Four members of that group escorted Lady Gaga to the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday to help Lady Gaga publicize her campaign to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."

The proof is in the numbers.

On Thursday, the group said 107,159 people clicked on its site within 72 hours after Lady Gaga had urged her fans to check it out. The group said that nearly 93 percent were first-time visitors to the action site.

The group's Web site features a picture of Lady Gaga with her four escorts, gay military veterans, on the red carpet last Sunday at the awards show. Later, she asked viewers on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" to call Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to schedule a vote on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." She also tweeted and posted a Facebook message to her Little Monster fans to call Reid.

His campaign responded to Lady Gaga via Twitter to let her know a vote is scheduled next week.

The Reid campaign kept responding to Gaga fans on Twitter Thursday afternoon to encourage them to read the bio on his campaign Web site.

Thursday afternoon, Reid filed for cloture on the motion to proceed to debate the National Defense Authorization Act, which contains the amendment aimed at repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. This sets up a floor vote on the motion for Tuesday.

Lady Gaga, whose real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, has been a LGBT activist since hitting the music scene in 2008. Last October, she spoke at the National Equality March rally in Washington and said it was the single most important event of her career.

Her Web site also features a call to action against "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" by encouraging fans to visit the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network Web site.

Filed Under: Gay Rights, Woman Up, Culture, Military

Tagged: dont ask dont tell, harry reid, Lady Gaga, mtv video music awards

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sappy

When were Palin and her pals ever in the military, yet they comment about DADT all the time! Every American citizen has the right to have an opinion about our military--which is run by civilians, by the way.

September 20 2010 at 12:11 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

fredcren918

35 countries allow gay people to serve in their military. It's ridiculous to think that U.S. servicemen have to be protected from the fear that someone might be checking out their wee-wee in the shower. Military leaders should set an example and tell the ranks to "buck up, get a life, and worry about real threats they can face, such as in battle."

September 17 2010 at 2:41 AM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down Reply

mjr91

I may not love her music, but it's nice to see a performer who wants to make a change who isn't just spouting boring hot air on the talk show circuit. She certianly understands the power of the modern social network. She may be strange, but she's not at all stupid.

September 16 2010 at 8:08 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply