Artist News

Lady Gaga speaks against ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’

By CMU Editorial | Published on Wednesday 22 September 2010

Lady Gaga yesterday gave a speech in front of over 4000 gay rights activists, calling on the US Senate to vote in favour of a bill that would scrap the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy which prevents openly gay men and women from serving in the US Army. The upper house of the US Congress were voting on the proposals yesterday.

In a slightly rambling speech, Gaga said: “My name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. I am an American citizen … [and] to the Senate, to Americans, to Senator Olympia Snowe, Senator Susan Collins – both from Maine – and Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts: equality is the prime rib of America. Equality is the prime rib of what we stand for as a nation. And I don’t get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat that my country has to offer. Are you listening? Shouldn’t everyone deserve the right to wear the same meat dress that I did? Repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell'”.
 
She continued: “There are amazing heroes here today whose stories are more powerful than any story I could tell, any fight I’ve ever fought, and any song that I could tell, I’m here because they inspire me. I’m here because I believe in them. I’m here because ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ is wrong … it’s unjust and, fundamentally, it is against all that we stand for as Americans”.

Despite Gaga’s protestation (and support from President Obama, who promised to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ when he became president), the bill was blocked by the Senate, the Democrats falling 60 votes short of the required majority needed.

What’s that, an opportunity to post a relevant Bill Hicks clip? Well, it would be a waste not to: youtu.be/Np6_b-72H3E