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Kirsten Gillibrand Tweets Lady Gaga After Don't Ask, Don't Tell Video

By DNAinfo Staff on September 17, 2010 1:59pm  | Updated on September 17, 2010 2:03pm

By Olivia Scheck

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MANHATTAN — Pop star, fashion icon and gay rights advocate Lady Gaga can add another credential to her list: political powerhouse.

The "Paparazzi" star tweeted a video message to the U.S. Senate Friday morning asking them to support legislation repealing the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (DADT) policy that prevents homosexuals from serving openly in the military. In the video, Gaga also made telephone calls to New York's senators, Kirsten Gillibrand and Chuck Schumer, through their public lines.

Both calls failed — with Schumer's line giving her a busy signal and Gillibrand's informing her that the senator's inbox was already full.

But, less than an hour later, Gillibrand tweeted Gaga.

"Thx for calling. I couldn't agree more and am helping lead the fight to repeal DADT." Gillibrand tweeted in response to Gaga's video. "Do you have a moment to talk later today?"

Gaga responded with: @ChuckSchumer@SenGillibrand Thankyou for responding, it means so much that you support us on this issue. Let's get this passed. Talk monday?

Gaga, who has six million Twitter followers (more than anyone else on the internet), also took the opportunity to denounce "John McCain's shameless filibuster."

McCain, the Senator from Arizona and former presidential candidate, threatened to block the annual Pentagon budget authorization bill last month if it included language that would repeal DADT, according to the New York Times.

But Friday wasn't the first time Gaga forced a U.S. Senator to stand up and take notice.

The Twitter queen marshaled her army of "little monsters" to demand that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid schedule a vote on the DADT measure last Tuesday. Later that day, Reid tweeted to say that he would be introducing the bill next week.