Barney Frank appointed to Dem platform committee

Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., will be a member of the Democratic Party's platform-writing committee, which is tasked with developing the party's official positions for the next four years. 

Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said it is likely that the platform will include support for marriage equality.

Barney Frank wants to debate Newt Gingrich on marriage

Oh, snap! Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., said he'd like to debate former House Speaker and scandalous adulterer Newt Gingrich on the issue of marriage. 

"I look forward to debating, to take one important example, the Defense of Marriage Act with Mr. Gingrich. I think he is an ideal opponent for us, when we talk about just who it is, is threatening the sanctity of marriage," Frank told reporters assembled last week to hear his announcement that he would not seek re-election.

Please let this happen!

Polis offers Frank praise

Openly gay and lesbian U.S. Reps. including Colorado's own Jared Polis, Tammy Baldwin, and David Cicilline praised their colleague, U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., following his announcement that his current term in Congress will be his last. 

"Barney Frank was a groundbreaking pioneer and one of the most insightful, knowledgeable and humorous people ever to grace the halls of Congress," said Polis.

Discharged troops should have benefits, says Jared Polis, other out lawmakers

Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., Jared Polis, D-Colo., and David Cicilline, D-R.I., each of whom is openly gay, are signing on to a letter by Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis., urging military leaders to reinstate the benefits of troops who were discharged under "don't ask, don't tell." 

"While we cannot completely undo the injustice that has been done to gay and lesbian service members, we can at least diminish the harm they suffered by preserving the benefits they earned," said Frank in a release.

Election Day has consequences for the LGBT community

Writer Lisa Keen looks at 13 races across the country whose outcomes could have a significant impact on progress toward LGBT equality. 

Among the congressional candidates she's following are David Cicilline, Steve Pougnet and Barney Frank, all of whom are openly gay.

Rep. Barney Frank: Bullying deaths could galvanize public support for change

Some activists say the attention focused on the problem of anti-gay bullying could help teach Americans why it's important to pass legal protections for the LGBT community.

"It's when bigotry shows itself at its worst that people respond," said Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

Reps. Frank, Baldwin say House can pass trans-inclusive ENDA

After five weeks of counting votes, Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass., and Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., say the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, including transgender-specific language, has enough votes to pass the House of Representatives.

Frank said he rejected the idea of decoupling gender-identity and sexual-orientation nondiscrimination language.

ENDA and Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal are moving forward, Barney Frank says

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act is on track to clear a House committee this month and could get a full vote in March, according to out U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass. However, Frank believes Senate passage is less certain for the measure. In other LGBT legislative news, Frank also expressed hope that language to end the military gay ban would be included in this year's defense-authorization bill.

Jared Polis makes the Out 100 List

U.S. Reps. Barney Frank, D-Mass.; Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis.; and Jared Polis, D-Colo. (pictured), have been named to Out magazine's 2009 "Out 100 List" of LGBT movers and shakers. The three are described by Out as "fierce advocates" who "form a powerful, out triumvirate, wielding influence over the economy, social welfare, labor, and education."

Barney Frank on In The Life

'In The Life' brought Andrew Tobias and Congressman Barney Frank together to discuss the state of LGBT rights in government. Congressman Frank talks about where four important pieces of pro-LGBT legislation stand, what the LGBT community needs to do to pass them, and why we shouldn't be putting all our focus on Barack Obama to fix our problems.

Barney Frank not a fan of DOMA repeal legislation

Although a bill that would repeal the federal Defense of Marriage Act is set to be introduced today in the House with about 90 co-sponsors, it is considered to be more of a vehicle to "build momentum" for marriage equality than a bill with a chance of passage, according to this article.

Out U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., is not a co-sponsor of the Respect for Marriage Act because he believes the LGBT-rights bills with the best chances of success in this session are the Employment Non-Discrimination Act and a measure that would grant domestic-partnership benefits to federal workers.

The Barney Frank story

A new biography, "Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman," by former Frank staffer Stuart Weisberg, offers new insights on Frank's political career as well as his personal struggles with coming to terms with his sexual orientation. According to the book, Frank, although he has no plans to leave the House, would like to wrap up his career in government by helming the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Things are looking good for ENDA

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which has long been championed by out Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., this year stands a good chance of becoming law, because of a combination of factors. ENDA has the backing of President Barack Obama and strong support in the Senate. It also has a powerful advocate in Diego Sanchez, a transgender member of Frank's staff whose presence has helped to educate lawmakers on transgender issues.

Barney Frank: Ma'am, trying to have a conversation with you would be like trying to argue with a dining room table

I love Barney Frank.

Gay discrimination in the workplace banned by the end of 2009?

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would ban workplace bias based on sexual orientation and gender discrimination, has a chance of becoming law by the end of 2009, according to Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., its lead sponsor in the Senate.

The measure was introduced in the Senate on Wednesday with 38 co-sponsors, including Sens. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass.; Olympia Snowe, R-Maine; and Susan Collins, R-Maine. Out Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., is the chief sponsor of the House version, which was introduced in June.

Barney Frank says, "the government should mind its own business on marijuana"

A new article in Esquire details Barney Frank's plan to decriminalize marijuana. - via Boing Boing

Barney Frank talks economic recovery with John Stewart, in two parts

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Barney Frank Pt. 1
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Joke of the Day

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
Barney Frank Extended Interview Pt. 2
www.thedailyshow.com
Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Joke of the Day

Barney Frank hawks hemp

Barney Frank (D-MA)is behind a new bill to legalize hemp.

Not the smoking kind. The commercial kind.

Sounds like a good idea to me. America needs the revenue.

Out magazine's 50 Most Powerful Gay Men and Lesbians

What a difference a year makes. The global economic crisis has pushed Democratic congressman Barney Frank to the top of Out magazine’s third annual list of America’s most influential gay men and woman. The 69-year old head of the House Financial Services Committee, who ranked second last year, has been a leading voice for banking reform in the wake of the financial crisis, as well as a prominent advocate for gay civil rights.

Others on the list include Ellen DeGeneres (#2), CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper (#3), media mogul Barry Diller (#8), and financial guru Suze Orman (#22). But what’s most striking is the number of new names on the list—17 in total—that reflect the growing visibility of America’s gays and lesbians. New names include MSNBC host Rachel Maddow (#4), the Oscar winning screenwriter of Milk, Dustin Lance Black (#25), Facebook co-creator Chris Hughes (#32), newly-out comedian and actress Wanda Skyes (#35), and Michelle Obama’s dressmaker Jason Wu (#44).


More information, including where to see the full list, after the jump.

“Barney Frank represents a remarkable American, not just for the crucial role he plays in determining how the stimulus money is spent, but in using his position to elevate the cause of gay and lesbian civil rights,” said Editor in Chief Aaron Hicklin. “In a year marking the 40th anniversary of Stonewall, his success—and that of the others on this list—reflects a growing consensus that all Americans deserve equal rights and protections.”

Frank is joined by a cadre of politicians and activists whose profiles have been given a boost by the Obama presidency. They include the controversial gay Episcopalian bishop V. Gene Robinson (#7), congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (#11), congressman Jared Polis (#16), and director of the Export-Import Bank Fred Hochberg (#12).

Also on this year’s list is Matt Drudge, the owner of the right-wing news-aggregating site Drudge Report. Although he has not publicly acknowledged his sexuality, the 42-year old journalist has enjoyed a long-term relationship with a male landscape gardener.

Editorial staff began assembling the 2009 list at the beginning of the year, basing their rankings on each candidate’s cultural resonance, political influence, media profile, and wealth. “For many of the most powerful gay men and women in America, sexuality takes a backseat to their career accomplishments, but we think their achievements deserve acknowledging,” says Hicklin.

The full Power 50 can be found at http://www.out.com/power50.



Transman joins Barney Frank's staff

Diego Sanchez is the newest edition to Barney Frank's (D-Mass.-gay) staff, and this guy has been around the block a few times and knows what he's doing. He's been named on of the 100 most powerful Latinos in corporate America by Hispanic Business Magazine, and was appointed by Howard Dean to the Democratic National Committee's Platform Committee. The thing that's so important about all this is that Sanchez is a transguy--born female, now male.

Hopefully, Sanchez will have a lot of influence with Frank, who, for a long time, was not sold on trans inclusion in the federal ENDA--and in almost any other gay and lesbian rights battle. But Frank's come a ways since then, and Sanchez will probably have an even greater impact on that. So, Deigo, we salute you. Keep up the good work.