Follow up:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=5C1FB2CF520CE6A3

Love her.

She's at risk of becoming overexposed. The VMAs, music videos, web clips, mag covers...please, Gaga.

I love the video.

[Edited 9/20/10 10:17am]

nice to see her do something like this

I like hearing about stuff like this, not about the damn meat dress or lingerie in the airport stories

She rallied in Maine today:

(CNN) -- Declaring that "Equality is the prime rib of America," pop star Lady Gaga urged Maine's two U.S. senators to help break a Republican filibuster on legislation that includes a repeal of the military's ban on openly homosexual service members.

"My name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. I am an American citizen," the singer told a Portland, Maine, rally organized by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. She urged Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both Republicans, to support the repeal of the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" rule and share "the greatest cut of meat that my country has to offer" with gays and lesbians in the military.

"Shouldn't everyone deserve the right to wear the same meat dress that I do?" asked the singer, who caught flak for showing up at MTV's Video Music Awards in a dress made of raw meat. "Repeal 'don't ask, don't tell' or go home."

The 24-year-old singer also drew cheers by proposing a new law, titled, "If you don't like it, go home," which would remove homophobic straight soldiers from the military instead of gay soldiers.

"If you are not honorable enough to fight without prejudice, go home," she shouted.

Opponents of the 1993 ban have urged Snowe and Collins, both of whom oppose the policy, to join Democrats and help shut down a Republican-led filibuster of a defense authorization bill that would repeal the restriction. Democrats are unlikely to muster the 60-vote supermajority needed to get the bill to the Senate floor without their support. But in statements issued Monday, both senators indicated they would vote with GOP leaders and block the measure.

A key procedural vote is set for Tuesday afternoon.

In addition to speaking at Monday's rally, Gaga has used her online presence to rally her fans -- nicknamed "Little Monsters" -- in support of repeal.

"All hands on deck Lil Monsters: Key Senate vote this Tues. on #DADT repeal. We need 60 senators. Call your senator now," she tweeted on Thursday. She goes into more detail on her website, offering talking points for fans who make the call and urging them to voice their opposition to a filibuster or any amendments that would keep the ban in effect.

I'm not impressed with this chick in general, but I really don't like her regarding this topic - one that's close to my soul as a veteran.

1) I think she's pandering to the gay community. She knows which side of her paycheck has the most rainbow and pink triangle shaped dollar signs. She was barely out and was already barking about "my gays". Excuse me darlin', but I'm NOT one of your gays. Never have been, never will be. kthxbai.

2) She does risk over-exposure, but I have to say I don't give a shit about that. I think she's over-exposed anyway. Mainly her camel toe (does she own pants???)

3) She's more about style than substance. People just raved about "I want your ugly, I want your disease". Well big fucking deal. Like there's never been a song about wanting ALL of someone, good and bad, before. Whoopteefuckingdoo. The biggest news on the MTV VMA? Her meat outfit. Did she perform? No. Did she say anything worthwhile? No. It was, and will always be, about her fucking dress made out of the tear ducts of dead babies.

4) She's got some reverse-discrimination in her speeches, from what I've read. You cannot tell other people how to think. Life is a constant LESSON, not a dictatorship. We're not programmed like Keanu in The Matrix. "Hey Trinity, can you download some tolerance of gays? BBBZZZTTPTPTPTTT "Whoa. More!" Yeah, I wish it was that easy. Don't Ask Don't Tell, and the military in general - at points, is very dictatorial, and it almost feels totalitarian at times. I was in the military, WAY before DADT, or even before Clinton was ever in office to begin with. I was in during the Reagan-Don't-Mention-AIDS years, and also under the first Bush monster. She's telling people if they can't be open, they need to go home. Well excuse me, Ms. Germanotta, but that's not very American. While I agree soldiers, airmen, and sailors need to be more open and accepting of their fellow gay service members, it's very anti-constitutional to also tell them "you have to think THIS way, or you shouldn't serve". Isn't that what she's supposed to be fighting and railing against - that very same "If you don't like it, go home" mentality she's spouting as the right and good way? It's very hypocritical of her. If she's so open about gays in the military, then SHE should enlist. Let her join up and head on over to Iraq, or Afghanistan, and serve her country, because what she's doing here isn't helping much.

I don't want sexual tolerance, I was full inclusion and acceptance. Tolerance? I hate that word. I tolerate gnats at a BBQ. I tolerate the noisy gal on the bus on the way to work. I tolerate some idiot peeling out of a parking lot like a faux-hot shot. I tolerate a slow clerk at Target when I'm in a bit of a tired rush. I don't need someone tolerating me because of what I do in my own electric blue bedroom. Fuck your tolerance. It's like that line in RENT, "Take me or leave me". I'm sure a couple of Gaga's intentions are good, but her methods and particular language on it is appalling; frankly I find her phony. I'm gay, and all about a great diva in the midst. This gal, who is only 24, is no diva. She's no gay icon. She's not been around long enough, or wore enough stupid costumes, to gain that title.

.

[Edited 9/21/10 11:01am]

that woman (alien) is the biggest attention whore i've ever seen.

I totally did not understand what she meant. Is she calling the military a cut of meat? Is she referring to war as meat?

DesireeNevermind said:

"My name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. I am an American citizen," the singer told a Portland, Maine, rally organized by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. She urged Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe, both Republicans, to support the repeal of the Pentagon's "don't ask, don't tell" rule and share "the greatest cut of meat that my country has to offer" with gays and lesbians in the military.

I totally did not understand what she meant. Is she calling the military a cut of meat? Is she referring to war as meat?

Yeah I didn't get that part.

ernestsewell said:

I don't want sexual tolerance, I was full inclusion and acceptance. Tolerance? I hate that word. I tolerate gnats at a BBQ. I tolerate the noisy gal on the bus on the way to work. I tolerate some idiot peeling out of a parking lot like a faux-hot shot. I tolerate a slow clerk at Target when I'm in a bit of a tired rush. I don't need someone tolerating me because of what I do in my own electric blue bedroom. Fuck your tolerance. It's like that line in RENT, "Take me or leave me". I'm sure a couple of Gaga's intentions are good, but her methods and particular language on it is appalling; frankly I find her phony. I'm gay, and all about a great diva in the midst. This gal, who is only 24, is no diva. She's no gay icon. She's not been around long enough, or wore enough stupid costumes, to gain that title.

IMO, acceptance is the same thing. You don't need anyone's acceptance or stamp of approval to validate you as a man/human being/American. What you want is for mfers to leave you alone, respect your rights and obey the fucking law. Same thing black folks fight for every day in this country

^ I think what Ernest was saying was you can tolerate ANYTHING or ANYONE while still thinking they shouldn't deserve acceptance. I think that's what he was stating. You can tolerate anything but you want to be ACCEPTED too. I think that's the "difference". It's like someone tolerating me for being who I am (black) but not wanting me to join a club because "it would bring trouble".

[Edited 9/21/10 11:12am]

I support the repeal of Don't Ask Don't Tell wholeheartedly. Whether or not its repeal facilitates a more diverse (and larger) military, it is by definition unconstitutional, not progressive and just plain ole wrong.

The real problem is what it's in response to - fostering violent intolerance by default.

Timmy84 said:

^ I think what Ernest was saying was you can tolerate ANYTHING or ANYONE while still thinking they shouldn't deserve acceptance. I think that's what he was stating. You can tolerate anything but you want to be ACCEPTED too. I think that's the "difference". It's like someone tolerating me for being who I am (black) but not wanting me to join a club because "it would bring trouble".

[Edited 9/21/10 11:12am]

That's what I got from Ernest too.

And on that note....isn't Gaga's stance right? People have to tolerate something in order to deal with appropriately. You can't force someone to accept something especially if goes against their core beliefs which I think is the problem with the whole gays in the military thing however you can expect and demand they tolerate someone because it's the right thing to do and even if you don't approve of someone you can't keep them from fighting for the country they live in and love.

Gaga makes a good point about straight folk not being able to deal with gays and still do their job. If it's that big a problem for you then maybe you shouldn't be in the military to begin with. However, can't gays still do their job without other people knowing their business? The whole DADT thing is stupid because it's the military...not a social club or daycare center. You shouldn't get kicked out if you are doing what you're supposed to be doing which would include protecting yourself and your fellow soldiers and obeying military orders handed down to you from your commanding officers. So the question is: If tommorow we all woke up and it was announced that gays were allowed in the military openly - what would change? Are gay and straight folk all of sudden not going to do the job they signed up for?

I'm no fan of Gaga but she makes a good and passionate argument to repeal DADT even if her delivery is a tad showboatish.

I never quite understood why Bill Clinton thought the DADT thing would help homosexual soldiers but it made things worse.

[Edited 9/21/10 11:38am]

DesireeNevermind said:

Timmy84 said:

^ I think what Ernest was saying was you can tolerate ANYTHING or ANYONE while still thinking they shouldn't deserve acceptance. I think that's what he was stating. You can tolerate anything but you want to be ACCEPTED too. I think that's the "difference". It's like someone tolerating me for being who I am (black) but not wanting me to join a club because "it would bring trouble".

[Edited 9/21/10 11:12am]

That's what I got from Ernest too.

And on that note....isn't Gaga's stance right? People have to tolerate something in order to deal with appropriately. You can't force someone to accept something especially if goes against their core beliefs which I think is the problem with the whole gays in the military thing however you can expect and demand they tolerate someone because it's the right thing to do and even if you don't approve of someone you can't keep them from fighting for the country they live in and love.

Gaga makes a good point about straight folk not being able to deal with gays and still do their job. If it's that big a problem for you then maybe you shouldn't be in the military to begin with. However, can't gays still do their job without other people knowing their business? The whole DADT thing is stupid because it's the military...not a social club or daycare center. You shouldn't get kicked out if you are doing what you're supposed to be doing which would include protecting yourself and your fellow soldiers and obeying military orders handed down to you from your commanding officers. So the question is: If tommorow we all woke up and it was announced that gays were allowed in the military openly - what would change? Are gay and straight folk all of sudden not going to do the job they signed up for?

I'm no fan of Gaga but she makes a good and passionate argument to repeal DADT even if her delivery is a tad showboatish.

Maybe that's what she was trying to say but it ended up sounding a little bit distorted. I guess if you're that passionate about something (as Gaga appears to be), you would say anything just to get your point across.

I don't understand why people thought BC was such a great prez. He instituted DADT and allowed for stiffer prison sentences for crack cocaine versus powder cocaine not to mention he was a bonafide Ho.

ernestsewell said:

She's telling people if they can't be open, they need to go home. Well excuse me, Ms. Germanotta, but that's not very American. While I agree soldiers, airmen, and sailors need to be more open and accepting of their fellow gay service members, it's very anti-constitutional to also tell them "you have to think THIS way, or you shouldn't serve". Isn't that what she's supposed to be fighting and railing against - that very same "If you don't like it, go home" mentality she's spouting as the right and good way? It's very hypocritical of her. If she's so open about gays in the military, then SHE should enlist. Let her join up and head on over to Iraq, or Afghanistan, and serve her country, because what she's doing here isn't helping much.

Actually, I think her point is that, if you're homophobic and have a problem with out gays serving in the military, you shouldn't be in the military to begin with. Which I completely agree with - for the same reason that racist and sexist personnel have no place in the military.

I don't see how what she's doing here isn't helping - I think it's a great thing that she's championing this cause. There are plenty of gay icons that have done zero for the community, so I appreciate that a star of her stature is taking such a political stand on this issue. Even if I didn't like her music, she has earned my personal respect for that.

VoicesCarry said:

ernestsewell said:

She's telling people if they can't be open, they need to go home. Well excuse me, Ms. Germanotta, but that's not very American. While I agree soldiers, airmen, and sailors need to be more open and accepting of their fellow gay service members, it's very anti-constitutional to also tell them "you have to think THIS way, or you shouldn't serve". Isn't that what she's supposed to be fighting and railing against - that very same "If you don't like it, go home" mentality she's spouting as the right and good way? It's very hypocritical of her. If she's so open about gays in the military, then SHE should enlist. Let her join up and head on over to Iraq, or Afghanistan, and serve her country, because what she's doing here isn't helping much.

Actually, I think her point is that, if you're homophobic and have a problem with out gays serving in the military, you shouldn't be in the military to begin with. Which I completely agree with - for the same reason that racist and sexist personnel have no place in the military.

I don't see how what she's doing here isn't helping - I think it's a great thing that she's championing this cause. There are plenty of gay icons that have done zero for the community, so I appreciate that a star of her stature is taking such a political stand on this issue. Even if I didn't like her music, she has earned my personal respect for that.

Yeah I got exactly what she meant by THAT. I'm guessing there's no other way BUT to say that. And you're exactly right about gay icons who haven't done shit for the community.

She's not a gay icon. She's a pandering lost girl.

ernestsewell said:

She's not a gay icon. She's a pandering lost girl.

Whatever your personal opinions of her, in the gay community, she's pretty much the biggest thing out there right now.

ernestsewell said:

She's not a gay icon. She's a pandering lost girl.

is she really lost or is she very calculating? like you said, she knows who a big portion of her audience is so no doubt she's pandering but perhaps every move is pre-planned and well thought out. maybe she knows what she will do for the next 5 years. if anything she's a good business woman.

I think Gaga knows had it NOT been for the gay audience, she wouldn't have hit the mainstream. They played a huge role in her success.

Lost or not, she used her fame constructively in a very relevant & important issue, which is more than I could say about MANY of the artists I love/listen to.

I still don't care for her music, but I have to admit, what she's doing is pretty cool. Good luck.

Timmy84 said:

I think Gaga knows had it NOT been for the gay audience, she wouldn't have hit the mainstream. They played a huge role in her success.

that first song - Just Dance or whatever was huge hit. I heard that song in many a straight club and boomin' from the beamers and vbugs of many a teen girl. It was catchy and she didn't even look crazy when that song came out. She even appeared on an episode of "The Hills" which is such a straight whiny girl show that recently ended after a long stint on MTV. Ernest is right in that she wasn't on the charts for very long and then boom she appointed herself as this "gay icon" talkin' about her gays. It's not like she's kathy Griffin who worked hard to earn that gay icon title and paid her dues over many years before becoming famous (lol D-list my ass - Kathy rocks).

DesireeNevermind said:

Timmy84 said:

I think Gaga knows had it NOT been for the gay audience, she wouldn't have hit the mainstream. They played a huge role in her success.

that first song - Just Dance or whatever was huge hit. I heard that song in many a straight club and boomin' from the beamers and vbugs of many a teen girl. It was catchy and she didn't even look crazy when that song came out. She even appeared on an episode of "The Hills" which is such a straight whiny girl show that recently ended after a long stint on MTV. Ernest is right in that she wasn't on the charts for very long and then boom she appointed herself as this "gay icon" talkin' about her gays. It's not like she's kathy Griffin who worked hard to earn that gay icon title and paid her dues over many years before becoming famous (lol D-list my ass - Kathy rocks).

According to her, some gay club kept playing the song ("Just Dance") and the other song that was out ("LoveGame"). I think she credited that club for her success on "The Fame" liner notes.

DesireeNevermind said:

Timmy84 said:

I think Gaga knows had it NOT been for the gay audience, she wouldn't have hit the mainstream. They played a huge role in her success.

that first song - Just Dance or whatever was huge hit. I heard that song in many a straight club and boomin' from the beamers and vbugs of many a teen girl. It was catchy and she didn't even look crazy when that song came out. She even appeared on an episode of "The Hills" which is such a straight whiny girl show that recently ended after a long stint on MTV. Ernest is right in that she wasn't on the charts for very long and then boom she appointed herself as this "gay icon" talkin' about her gays. It's not like she's kathy Griffin who worked hard to earn that gay icon title and paid her dues over many years before becoming famous (lol D-list my ass - Kathy rocks).

Gaga grew up in the NYC arts crowd and had been doing campy performances at gay clubs for years before she hit it big. When Just Dance became a huge hit in Canada - long before it smashed in the US or anywhere else - she made public appearances here and always cited her affection for the gay community.

Regardless, I consider what she is doing now as paying her dues: trying to have a real and meaningful impact on policies that affect the community. If she were disingenuous about it, she would just pay lip service to gays like so many others do and not actually do anything to support them.

[Edited 9/21/10 12:57pm]

"Just Dance" wasn't a really big hit until the late winter of 2009 but it was out for a while.

Timmy84 said:

"Just Dance" wasn't a really big hit until the late winter of 2009 but it was out for a while.

Yeah, it spent five months on the Hot 100 before it hit No. 1.

In contrast, it debuted on the Canadian Hot 100 at the beginning of June, 2008 and peaked in August.