Lady Gaga accepts Randy Shilts Visibility Award

At the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) National Dinner on Saturday, March 19, 2011, Lady Gaga was presented with the Randy Shilts Visibility Award for her efforts in helping the DADT Repeal cause. Mike Almy, a 13-year Air Force veteran who was discharged under DADT, accepted the award on her behalf. Lady GaGa spoke to the evening's attendees via a pre-taped message.

More from SLDN at http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/03/sldn-recognizes-hoyer-hoyer-re.html


MIKE ALMY: I decided not to wear the ''meat dress'' tonight and go for the tuxedo instead.


I'm proud to accept this award on behalf of Lady Gaga
who's on tour tonight and couldn't be with us.

Join me in thanking her as we watch this special message that she took the time to record while she was fighting for equality for all of us.

[pause]

00:25 LADY GAGA:

Hi, this is Lady Gaga.

I've had the amazing opportunity this year to get to know the great gays and lesbians who serve our country in the military.

The military told them they weren't good enough because they were gay.

I try to use my platform to touch young gays all over the country and the world.
I want them all to know that, ''You are good enough.''

When I took the servicemembers with me to the VMA's,
I did so because I wanted to make a statement.

I wanted to make sure that the world saw the injustice
faced by such honorable and such steadfast citizens.

I went to Maine because I wanted the Senators there to know that we are all watching how they treated this issue.

The youth of America care so much about LGBT issues,
and weren't going to let the Senators get away continuing with a discriminatory law without exposing and making an example of them.

I'm honored to accept this award from this organization that's been dedicated to servicemembers for the last 17 years.

And I recognized that this fight doesn't end here.

We still have so much more to do to be able to achieve full equality.
And that's really what I care about.

So the SLDN and I are going to keep working so hard until that is achieved.
A reward to be brave.
A reward to survive.
And we will.

Thank you.