Lady Gaga Gay Rally In Portland: Repeal 'Don't Ask Don't Tell,'

by NowPublic Staff | September 20, 2010 at 08:23 am

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Lady Gaga And Service Members Legal Defense Network Pressure Senators Olympic Snow and Susan Collins In Portland, Maine

Lady Gaga is joining forces with the gay rights group Service Members Legal Defense Network (SMLD) for a rally in Deering Oaks Park, near the University of Southern Maine's Portland campus to pressure moderate Republicans to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.

....call on Maine's two moderate Republican Senators - Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins - to vote yes on a defense bill that would include a repeal of the 17-year-old law banning gay and lesbians from serving openly in the military.

The SMLD hopes they can influence Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins with the Portland rally in advance of Tuesday's Senate vote on the bill.

Grammy award winner, Lady Gaga is an outspoken supporter of gay rights. She has millions of Twitter and Facebook followers.

“We’re bringing gay and straight service members to Portland to help make the case. And we’re proud to have the support of Lady Gaga to bring grassroots attention to repeal at a critical hour.”

Right now Senator John McCain has a Senate Fillibuster in play preventing he passage of the bill that would repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.

We need Sens. Snowe and Collins on board; they're key to us breaking the filibuster," said SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis.

"All New England senators, indeed all 100 senators, Democrats and Republicans, need to engage in a real debate on this issue, and not just posture and spin this week over procedure and Senate rules," Sarvis said.