Pop star Lady Gaga wasn't in the Senate chamber Saturday, but she was among the celebrities virtually taking part in the historic vote to repeal the 17-year policy known as "don't ask, don't tell."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Saturday sent Lady Gaga a message on Twitter: #DADT on it's way to becoming history. Later he tweeted: @We did it! is a thing of the past.
After the Senate voted 65-31 to give final congressional approval to end the ban on openly gay troops, Lady Gaga tweeted: Can't hold back the tears+pride. We did it!i Our voice was heard + today the Senate REPEALED DADT. A triumph for equality after 17 YEARS.
The Grammy Award-winning singer inserted herself into the debate in September when she addressed 2000 people in a Deering Oaks Park, Maine, rally where she stood alongside Air Force, Army and Marine veterans who were discharged because of the policy.
At that time she urged a new policy targeting straight soldiers uncomfortable with gays and called it "'If you don't like it, go home!"
MTV also reported that Gaga had brought to the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards openly gay service members who had been discharged or left the military due to the policy. She also made viral videos.
Reid and Lady Gaga first exchanged tweets in September when the singer tweeted that gay rights supporters should contact him, and he responded on Twitter that a vote was coming up the next week.
Among other celebrity tweeters Saturday:
Ellen DeGeneres, openly gay talk show host, tweeted, "Thank you Senators for pushing us one step closer towards full equality.”
Kelly Osbourne, reality TV star, posted, “Today is an amazing day I could not have woken up to better news. The senate repealed #DADT this is a huge step towards equality for all.”
Neil Patrick Harris, who stars in "How I Met Your Mother" and recently started managing parenting duties with partner David Burtka, tweeted, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell REPEALED! So proud of Congress for making the right decision. Now all soldiers can serve with integrity. A great day."
Audra McDonald of ABC's "Private Practice" tweeted hours after Senate passage, "Couldn't tweet my joy cuz kid was playing her piano recital but now I can...(Sing along) DING DONG DADT IS DEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who plays a gay family member in ABC's "Modern Family": "Stepping closer to Equality! Good Job America!!!! Don't Ask Don't Tell closer to being on the 'Remember-how-crazy-it-was-when...' list!"
Boris Kodjoe, costar of NBC's "Undercovers" tweeted, "About time! The repeal of #DADT is finally official. Live and let live. Auf geht's!" Well done!," after first retweeting President Barack Obama's tweet: "By ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," no longer will patriotic Americans be asked to live a lie in order to serve."
Comedian Sandra Bernhard tweeted, "we did it! go tell it on the mountain, your gay and strong and loyal and sexy and can kick anybodies ass you want, goodbye dadt!"
Singer Katy Perry retweeted and added to singer Pink's tweet: "SUPPORTING ALL OUR TROOPS! RT @Pink: Congrats 2 US!!! REPEAL of DADT & 17 years of allowing Human Rights Violations. There's hope after all!"
Actor-director Danny DeVito, on FX cable's "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," sent a congratulatory tweet: "@BarackObama way to go Obama & everyone who worked for Repeal of DADT."