What Lady Gaga did...

Dear Patti --

In the last week, the entire debate around "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" has been transformed, following the federal court decision by Judge Virginia Phillips that this discriminatory policy was unconstitutional:

Last Friday, Lt. Dan Choi asked Courage Campaign members to sign a letter to Sen. Harry Reid, asking him to bring the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" to the Senate floor for a vote. As of today, 507,628 signatures have been collected by Courage to repeal DADT, including 16,431 on this letter alone.

On Sunday night, Lady Gaga brought four military servicemembers with her to MTV's Video Music Awards, passionately advocating for repeal and dedicating the front page of her web site to the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) -- an amazing partner organization leading the fight.

On Monday, Lady Gaga asked her supporters on Twitter to call Sen. Harry Reid to ask him to bring DADT repeal to the floor for a vote, as part of the Defense Authorization budget bill. In a surprising move, Sen. Reid quickly responded to Lady Gaga on Twitter, telling her "@ladygaga There is a vote on #DADT next week. Anyone qualified to serve this country should be allowed to do so."

And, on Wednesday, Lauren and Ellie -- two students inspired by Lady Gaga's DADT activism -- uploaded an adorable YouTube video that has gone viral, mobilizing students across the country to call and ask their senators to support repeal.

With next week's critical vote coming up as early as Tuesday, it's your turn to be the tipping point between victory and defeat. That's why we're teaming up with SLDN to ask you to follow the lead of Lady Gaga, Lauren and Ellie and tell your senator to support repeal. The Capitol switchboard number is (202) 224-3121 and lines are open 24 hours a day. Call now and report your call here:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/DADTcall

If you need to know the name of your state's two senators, just ask the operator. Here's what to say while you're on the phone:

• Tell your senators to vote with Sen. Reid and Sen. Carl Levin in opposing a filibuster, or any amendment to strike repeal from the Defense bill.

• Tell your senators that it is critical that they vote and finish the Defense bill before they leave for the election recess.

It's that simple. Speak up today and don't wait. Join, Courage, SLDN, Lady Gaga, Lauren and Ellie by calling the 24-hour Capitol switchboard now to urge both of your senators to vote for repeal:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/DADTcall

Thank you for taking action to finally rid our country of DADT and the discrimination it represents.

Eden James
Managing Director, Courage Campaign

 

Courage Campaign Equality is a part of the Courage Campaign's multi-issue online organizing network that empowers more than 700,000 grassroots and netroots supporters to push for progressive change and full equality in California and across the country. To get involved in Courage Campaign Equality, visit "Testimony: Equality on Trial" -- our year-long campaign to bring the Prop 8 trial into the lives of Americans.

To support our work to repeal DADT, please chip in what you can today: