Barney Frank For Congress - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Rights

OP-ED By Congresswoman Melissa Bean on ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act)

Tue, 8 Jan 2008 23:31:31 -0500

HISTORIC LAW
Chicago Tribune Op-Ed
By U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean (D-IL)
November 20, 2007

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would amend existing workplace discrimination laws to include sexual orientation. Our vote followed an impassioned plea for support from my colleague and chairman, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank. Since coming to Congress, I can’t remember being so personally moved by a member’s remarks on the House floor. And I was not alone. While Barney is renowned for his quick wit, humor and incisive intellectual arguments, he disarmed his opponents that night with pure emotion.

Teary-eyed members, including myself, were touched not by Congressman Frank, Financial Services Committee chairman, but by Barney, their respected gay colleague, emotionally sharing how he has personally faced discrimination and his passionate pleas to finally remove such workplace barriers from the lives of gay Americans.

Barney told us how he’s been fighting to pass this type of legislation for 35 years, and that he couldn’t help but “take personally” attempts to derail his efforts. He implored his colleagues to not send him back having failed gay Americans. For the first time since I’ve been in the House floor, you could hear a pin drop.

Frank Fights Against Proposed Constitutional Amendment Barring Same Sex Marriage

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 13:29:05 -0400

I take it personally when people decide to take political batting practice with my life… How is marriage endangered? Apparently, people happily married in Indiana, Nebraska, Kansas, and Mississippi read that we have had same-sex marriage quite successfully in Massachusetts, and they look in the mirror and they say, wow, I could have married a guy. Click here to read Congressman Frank remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives during debate on the proposed Constitutional Amendment (which failed to receive the 2/3 House vote necessary for passage; the Senate had earlier also failed to pass the Amendment.Click here to read Congressman Frank remarks on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives during debate on the proposed Constitutional Amendment (which failed to receive the 2/3 House vote necessary for passage; the Senate had earlier also failed to pass the Amendment.

House Members Condemn Gay Bashing In Russia

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 13:19:21 -0400

July 7, 2006 - With Russian President Vladimir Putin about to step onto the international stage as his country prepares to host the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg next month, a bipartisan group of U.S. House members today focused attention inside Russia as they condemned the recent anti-gay violence that occurred during the country,s first gay pride festival in the Russian capital.
Click Here to Read Press Release and Letter to the President.

Lawmakers Urge President To Enforce Ban On Sexual Orientation Discrimination In Federal Workforce

Thu, 11 Aug 2005 10:45:58 -0400

June 20, 2005 - Eighty-five U.S. Representatives today called on President Bush to preserve the longstanding prohibition against discrimination based on sexual orientation in the federal civil service, which the President has affirmed is his administration,s policy. In a letter to the President, the Members of Congress, led by Representatives Barney Frank, Eliot Engel, Tammy Baldwin, Henry Waxman and George Miller, urged the President to ensure that Scott Bloch, director of the Office of Special Counsel, enforces the policy. Click Here to Read Press Release and Letter to the President.

Frank Departs from Prepared Speech to Talk About Gay Marriage at Democratic National Convention

Thu, 4 Aug 2005 13:03:02 -0400

Boston, July 29, 2004

Richmond-Times Dispatch: Frank Question Alters Debate on Gay Marriage

Mon, 29 Aug 2005 18:19:07 -0400

March 28, 2004

Frank Takes on Robert Bork, Debates the Bible and Debunks Anti-gay Marriage Study

Thu, 4 Aug 2005 13:13:05 -0400

May 13, 2004 - Excerpts from Frank,s testimony before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution

Frank Opposes Republican Efforts to Void Domestic Partnership Law in D.C.

Thu, 4 Aug 2005 13:10:38 -0400

September 25, 2001 - Soon after 9-11, Frank invokes the Taliban while opposing Republican efforts to void domestic partnership lau in D.C.

NPR Interview with Barney Frank on Same-sex Marriages in San Francisco

Thu, 4 Aug 2005 12:59:45 -0400

March 12, 2004