Singers Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Pink
are among the celebrities who celebrated the demise of “Don't Ask,
Don't Tell,” the law that forbids gay and bisexual troops from
serving openly.
On Saturday, the Senate followed in the
footsteps of the House to approve repeal of the 1993 law.
The final 65 to 31 vote included eight
Senate Republicans. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, the only
Democrat not to vote for repeal, did not attend the vote, but later
said
in a statement that he does not believe the timing is right for
repeal.
“Can't hold back the tears+pride,”
Lady Gaga tweeted to her more than 7 million followers shortly after
the vote. “We did it! Our voice was heard + today the Senate
REPEALED DADT. A triumph for equality after 17 years.”
Late last month, Gaga
recorded a video urging senators to repeal the law.
“Thank you Senators for pushing us
one step closer towards full equality,” Ellen DeGeneres, who is
openly gay, tweeted.
“SUPPORTING ALL OUR TROOPS!” Katy
Perry added in retweeting a message from Pink: “Congrats 2 US!!!
REPEAL of DADT & 17 years of allowing Human Rights Violations.
There's hope after all!”