Singer Lady Gaga was honored at the
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network's (SLDN) 19th Annual
National Dinner on Saturday in Washington.
The 24-year-old Born This Way singer
received the group's Randy Shilts Visibility Award.
SLDN, the largest group to lobby
Congress to end “Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” the law that bans gay
and bisexual troops from serving openly, recruited Lady Gaga to speak
out in favor of repeal.
In December, President Barack Obama
signed a repeal bill into law that will lead to the law's eventual
end, possibly as early as this summer.
“Lady Gaga's outspoken commitment to
end 'Don't Ask' discrimination renewed the call for repeal on the
national stage and emboldened millions of young people to get
engaged, take action and play a decisive role in repealing this bad
law,” SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis said in a statement.
“We are profoundly grateful to Lady Gaga for her passion and
tireless involvement.”
Lady
Gaga called for repeal of the law at the SLDN-organized #4THE14K
rally in September and also created several videos
urging her fans to support legislative repeal of DADT.
MSNBC host Chris Matthews served as the
event's master of ceremonies and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer was
the keynote speaker.