Outspoken superstar Lady Gaga slammed the US Congress at a rally in Portland, Maine last month over the controversial ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ policy.
More than 2,000 people watched on as Gaga spoke out against the 1993 ban, prohibiting same-sex attracted soldiers to come out.
The 24-year-old singer delivered her speech on September 21 and said equality was the prime rib of America, set against a backdrop of stars and stripes.
‘Because I’m gay, I don’t get to enjoy the greatest cut of meat my country has to offer,’ she said speaking in the guise of a gay soldier.
‘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.
‘DADT seems backwards, doesn’t it seem … that we’re penalising the wrong soldier.’
Gaga said republican senators such as former presidential candidate John McCain cited disruptions to unit morale and cohesion due to openly gay soldiers.
On the same day she made her statement, the US Senate voted against a motion to debate the Defence Authorisation Bill which includes the DADT policy.
The Republicans triumphed in the vote 56 to 43; the Democrats having needed 60 votes to at least see the repeal be considered.
A lesbian flight nurse is currently fighting the ban in a Washington Federal District Court after she was sacked in 2007 when her partner’s ex-husband told the Air Force she was gay.
Former Major Margaret Witt began the trial on September 13 to argue that her rights had been violated and she should be reinstated to the Air Force – if she wins, the ruling would not affect the DADT laws.
In the final moments of her speech, Gaga launched into an impassioned directive to all those who opposed the DADT repeal.
‘If you are not committed to perform with excellence as United States soldiers because you do not believe in full equality, go home,’ she said.
‘If you are not honourable enough to fight without prejudice, go home!’
Benn Dorrington
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