Lady Gaga addressed her "fellow Americans" and the Senate this morning in a dramatic YouTube video as part of her ongoing effort to see the controversial Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy, which prevents gays from serving openly in the military, overturned and asked her fans to join her and the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network in repealing it. "It is my belief that no one person is more valuable than another," Gaga says in the over-seven-minute long, black-and-white video, flanked by the American flag.
Video after the jump.
"Our fight is a continuum of the ever-present equal rights movement," Gaga adds before urging her enormous fan base (a staggering 6.3 million on Twitter and over 18 million on Facebook) to contact their senators and singling out John McCain's moves to stop a vote from taking place.
The call-to-action is perhaps the singer's most forward step into the political arena. In her ever-growing role as an activist, Gaga has partnered with Human Rights Campaign, spoke at the National Equality March Rally, criticized Arizona's discriminatory new immigration enforcement law and, most recently, brought four veterans discharged from the military under DADT as her dates to the Video Music Awards.
(FILES)Lady Gaga wears her controversial meat dress, as she arrives in the Press Room after winning eight 2010 MTV Video Music Awards including "Video of the Year" at the Nokia Theater in Los Angeles on Sepetember 12, 2010. Animal rights activists put a fork in Lady Gaga's meat dress September 14, 2010 but supporters rallied around the bizarre singer, saying her outfit was absolutely sizzling. The professional provocateur upstaged the MTV music video awards late Sunday not just by walking away with eight prizes, but taking that walk in enormous shoes and a nifty dress made entirely of raw steak. AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Singer Lady Gaga accepts the Best Pop Video award onstage during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on September 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Singer Lady Gaga arrives at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on September 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Singer Lady Gaga arrives at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on September 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Singer Lady Gaga arrives at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on September 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Singer Lady Gaga arrives at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on September 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 12: Singer Lady Gaga arrives at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE on September 12, 2010 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Lady Gaga
Limit your talent to singing and wearing costumes.
Don't get involved with the Military they are trying to win a war and don't need the distractions.
When this whole thing is OVER then we can sit down and tackle this issue, STOP creating more problems they have a full plate with fighting for us and trying to stay alive.
Don't you get enough attention Lady Gaga. (I use the word Lady loosely, because we all know she is not a Lady) Put some clothes on then you are around children!!!
Since Lady Gaga is an idiot, why should I care about her message? She is an insignificant twit that the would would be better off without. Since she has never served in the military, she can go ... herself.
Was in the Army and there was a gay man in my outfit, he did his job, kept his activities to himself and didn't bother anyone, no one cared but if he had started talking about his exploits off duty it would have been thing all together.
Yes Gaga is an entertainer, but she is still an AMERICAN! I think that it is great to see someone with her influence taking a stand. You haters can just go shut up. As a bisexual woman who once took an interest in joining the Airforce, I am so very very happy she is doing this. I love you Gaga.
thats mean what u people r saying I CANT BELIEVE HOW HURTFUL some of u r to lady gaga omg its not like ur going to stand up for anything so shut up!!! please she is giveing it her all and all u people say is mean and hurtful things about
I think everyone should being concerned about whether or not Lady Gaga has served in the military or not. Yes, our society and especially youth do pay a lot of attention to entertainers and the like. And they know that -- that is why when they put a message out there it DOES get heard. That is basically the bottom line. It is better than doing nothing but being a couch potato and upset at the world as it is!
Electric I hope your not talking about my post being hateful. I'm OK with ga-ga speaking out. I'm just saying respect the military at the same time. Without them she or we wouldn't have that right. What do you think would happen to gay people if we LOST WWII. Really my post is quite neutral and say let the military decide.
She isn't speaking negatively about the military nor is she being disrespectful of it in any way. She is simply bringing awareness to a problem that is close to her. These people are her friends wouldn't you use your resources to HELP your friends!
Lady GaGa Should really think things through before using her stage as a pulpit. If you follow what it means to repeal this law to the end, we may have a military that is no longer volunteer which essentially means that Lady GaGa is calling for the return of the DRAFT.
WHAT THE HELL MAKES CELEBRITIES THINK THAT WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THEM ANYMORE THAN A REGULAR JOE ON THE STREET? DOES BEING FAMOUS SUDDENLY GIVE YOU UNENDING WISDOM AND MAKE YOUR VOICE MORE WORTHY OF BEING HEARD? I think not!! Celebrities need to stick to what they became celebrities for and stop abusing their privileges to push causes they happen to support. If they want to support causes and charities that is certainly fine but can any of them do it quietly and maybe not allow their picture to be taken doing it?? There's a challenge for them!
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Limit your talent to singing and wearing costumes.
Don't get involved with the Military they are trying to win a war and don't need the distractions.
When this whole thing is OVER then we can sit down and tackle this issue, STOP creating more problems they have a full plate with fighting for us and trying to stay alive.
Don't you get enough attention Lady Gaga. (I use the word Lady loosely, because we all know she is not a Lady) Put some clothes on then you are around children!!!
Reply
Since Lady Gaga is an idiot, why should I care about her message? She is an insignificant twit that the would would be better off without. Since she has never served in the military, she can go ... herself.
Reply
LOL.. i'm sure that's going to keep her up tonight...
Was in the Army and there was a gay man in my outfit, he did his job, kept his activities to himself and didn't bother anyone, no one cared but if he had started talking about his exploits off duty it would have been thing all together.
Reply
Yes Gaga is an entertainer, but she is still an AMERICAN! I think that it is great to see someone with her influence taking a stand. You haters can just go shut up. As a bisexual woman who once took an interest in joining the Airforce, I am so very very happy she is doing this. I love you Gaga.
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Stupid!
thats mean what u people r saying I CANT BELIEVE HOW HURTFUL some of u r to lady gaga omg its not like ur going to stand up for anything so shut up!!! please she is giveing it her all and all u people say is mean and hurtful things about
Reply
Well done Lady Gaga!
She is an extremely well known entertainer and will bring this subject a LOT of supporters.
Reply
I think everyone should being concerned about whether or not Lady Gaga has served in the military or not. Yes, our society and especially youth do pay a lot of attention to entertainers and the like. And they know that -- that is why when they put a message out there it DOES get heard. That is basically the bottom line. It is better than doing nothing but being a couch potato and upset at the world as it is!
Reply
This Transvestite needs to simply F.O.!
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Before lady ga-ga goes after the military don't forget the military is why you can speak out publically on this issue. Try doing that in Iran
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she is just trying to help. whats wrong with that. You people are so hateful and full of negativity.
BORN THIS WAY
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Electric I hope your not talking about my post being hateful. I'm OK with ga-ga speaking out. I'm just saying respect the military at the same time. Without them she or we wouldn't have that right. What do you think would happen to gay people if we LOST WWII. Really my post is quite neutral and say let the military decide.
She isn't speaking negatively about the military nor is she being disrespectful of it in any way. She is simply bringing awareness to a problem that is close to her. These people are her friends wouldn't you use your resources to HELP your friends!
God I'm so pround to be a Canadian.
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Jesus, Mary and Joseph...anyone have the suicide hotline phone number....I'm near the end of my rope.
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I hope you get the help you need killing yourself is not the answer. Sorry I don't have the hotline number I will be praying for you.
Lady GaGa Should really think things through before using her stage as a pulpit. If you follow what it means to repeal this law to the end, we may have a military that is no longer volunteer which essentially means that Lady GaGa is calling for the return of the DRAFT.
Reply
WHAT THE HELL MAKES CELEBRITIES THINK THAT WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THEM ANYMORE THAN A REGULAR JOE ON THE STREET? DOES BEING FAMOUS SUDDENLY GIVE YOU UNENDING WISDOM AND MAKE YOUR VOICE MORE WORTHY OF BEING HEARD? I think not!! Celebrities need to stick to what they became celebrities for and stop abusing their privileges to push causes they happen to support. If they want to support causes and charities that is certainly fine but can any of them do it quietly and maybe not allow their picture to be taken doing it?? There's a challenge for them!
Reply
LOL.. I don't think they care what you think. They're speaking their mind.. they'll sway some, not others. Get over it