Lady Gaga to rally in Maine against 'don't ask'

[September 20, 2010]  PORTLAND, Maine (AP) -- Organizers say Lady Gaga is visiting Maine's largest city to join a rally against the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays.

The singer is expected to join a Servicemembers Legal Defense Network event near the University of Southern Maine's Portland campus Monday. Network spokesman Trevor Thomas says she'll stand alongside veterans discharged because of the policy, which forbids military recruiters from asking about people's sexual orientations and prohibits service members from revealing if they're gay.

The organization is trying to pressure Republican Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine to vote to allow a repeal of the policy. Collins previously voted for a provision to repeal.

Lady Gaga recently called on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to repeal the policy during an interview with Ellen DeGeneres. Her representatives haven't returned e-mails seeking comment.

[Associated Press]

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