On Tuesday night, international pop sensation Lady Gaga pitched the need for DADT repeal before performing in the Monster Ball Tour at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C.
Gaga met with David Hall, former Air Force Staff Sergeant fired under DADT; Danny Hernandez, former Marine Lance Corporal who was also fired under DADT; Katie Miller, a top West Point cadet who resigned in August to protest the discriminatory law; and Stacy Vasquez, former Army Sergeant, First Class, who was fired under DADT. All are clients represented by the Servicemembers Legal defense Network, a legal and advocacy group lobbying Congress to repeal the military’s anti-gay policy.
The summit came two day before a federal court in California ruled that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” presents an unconstitutional violation of servicemembers’ First and Fifth Amendment rights. Though the policy won’t be repealed fully until appeals and injunctions are cleared, the ruling is a step in the right direction for gays who seek to serve their country proudly.
“Lady Gaga’s recognition of these fine patriots casts a spotlight on the unjust burden that ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ imposes upon the brave men and women who defend our country every day, and further underscores why the Senate must swiftly act to get rid of this despicable law for good,” said Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN’s executive director. “With expected votes on the Senate floor later this month, advocates of open service still have time to contact both their senators and urge them to show support for all our veterans by voting to end DADT.
On September 10, SLDN issued a national action alert urging members and supporters to call both their senators and Joint Senate Leadership and urge them to schedule a vote for repeal of DADT the week of September 20.