Appears at a rally in Portland, Maine, to ask Senators for their votes
Lady Gaga, who recently appeared on the cover of Japanese “Vogue” Magazine wearing a raw meat bikini, is propounding an end to the Defense Department's policy of “Don't ask; don't tell.”
She is asking Maine's two female U.S. Senators this week to cast votes against the policy by approving cloture for the Defense Appropriations Bill and sending the measure to the floor for a final vote.
Contained in the bill is a rider amendment that would eliminate a 1993 policy of excluding from military service male homosexuals and lesbians who openly acknowledge their unusual sexual orientation.
It's against the law for recruiters to quiz enlistees about the matter and it's similarly illegal for commanding officers to carry out investigations regarding with whom officers and enlisted personnel like to sleep.
On the other hand, if anyone chooses to tell all regarding their proclivities, they are summarily discharged as unfit for further military service, thereby losing all retirement benefits. According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, on whose behalf Lady Gaga is appearing, more than 14,000 individuals have been so discharged under the policy, many of them during the fledgling Obama Administration.
The organization claims the “Don't ask; don't tell” policy is unconstitutional and a violation of human rights.
Neither Senator Olympia Snowe, nor Senator Susan Collins have made any commitment so far, prompting the lobbying effort to make an appearance today at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.
Though Senator Collins voted against the anti-gay measure in the Senate Armed Services Committee, she has called for a full and open debate of the Defense Appropriation bill and the right for Repubican Senators to offer amendments to it.
Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has inserted an amnesty bill in the Defense Authorization package that would grant automatic U.S. Citizenship to enlistees and alien students who qualify for tuition aid.
If the Democrats muster the needed 60 votes, the two provisions regarding amnesty and don't ask, don't tell could become law as soon as the defense authorization bill is passed.
Lady Gaga, who recently appeared on the cover of Japanese “Vogue” Magazine wearing a raw meat bikini, is propounding an end to the Defense Department's policy of “Don't ask; don't tell.”
She is asking Maine's two female U.S. Senators this week to cast votes against the policy by approving cloture for the Defense Appropriations Bill and sending the measure to the floor for a final vote.
Contained in the bill is a rider amendment that would eliminate a 1993 policy of excluding from military service male homosexuals and lesbians who openly acknowledge their unusual sexual orientation.
It's against the law for recruiters to quiz enlistees about the matter and it's similarly illegal for commanding officers to carry out investigations regarding with whom officers and enlisted personnel like to sleep.
On the other hand, if anyone chooses to tell all regarding their proclivities, they are summarily discharged as unfit for further military service, thereby losing all retirement benefits. According to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, on whose behalf Lady Gaga is appearing, more than 14,000 individuals have been so discharged under the policy, many of them during the fledgling Obama Administration.
The organization claims the “Don't ask; don't tell” policy is unconstitutional and a violation of human rights.
Neither Senator Olympia Snowe, nor Senator Susan Collins have made any commitment so far, prompting the lobbying effort to make an appearance today at the University of Southern Maine in Portland.
Though Senator Collins voted against the anti-gay measure in the Senate Armed Services Committee, she has called for a full and open debate of the Defense Appropriation bill and the right for Repubican Senators to offer amendments to it.
Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has inserted an amnesty bill in the Defense Authorization package that would grant automatic U.S. Citizenship to enlistees and alien students who qualify for tuition aid.
If the Democrats muster the needed 60 votes, the two provisions regarding amnesty and don't ask, don't tell could become law as soon as the defense authorization bill is passed.
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