Very Frank

This is my interview with Congressman Barney Frank from today concerning ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.  The openly-gay congressman finds himself in a somewhat ugly rift right now with some of the country's most prominent gay rights organizations and their leaders. 

It's over his decision to push for passage of ENDA  legislation without the inclusion of protection for transgender people.  Frank says that there wouldn't be enough support in Congress to pass ENDA if it were to include transgender protection.

Congressman Frank tells CBS News on Logo that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will call for a vote by the full House of Representatives on an amendment to ENDA that would add transgender protection.  Frank says he's nearly certain the amendment won't pass.  Speaker Pelosi has already promised to bring a second bill, the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA), to a full House vote.

I'm posting this long version of my interview with Congressman Barney Frank on my blog because I think people interested in this controversy may appreciate hearing his comments. 

He is NOT the ONLY person we interviewed for our coverage for Logo.  You'll hear the points of view of several prominent gay rights activists in our report on-air and online.  When I'm able to, I'll post that report as well. 

Having a blog like this one allows us to offer materials (like this interview) to supplement our coverage.  This official-sounding disclaimer is my way of asking that you not interpret, by my posting of this interview, that I'm taking sides in this debate.

Thanks!

Discuss amongst yourselves.

Comments

[Thomas Grote]

I am disappointed that Congressman Frank compares other civil rights movements' leaving out LGBT with ENDA leaving out T. We are one movement that includes LGB and T. This is a very different scenario and it is naive to think that the community would not be upset about leaving part of the community behind.

[Ken K]

I have to admit... I see where he is coming from. Politics is definitely like a chess game, and Frank has pushed himself into a corner that he can't get out of. Have you ever played chess, and just looked at the last move you made and said: "CRAP!" Knowing the game is over ten moves before it happens- that's his situation.

He pulled ENDA as far as he could. He is merely "settling" much like Clinton did with "Don't ask, don't tell."

Gays, lesbians and bi-s have come a very long way. In the news, in the media all over the place! The sibling "T" has yet to catch up with us. Do we slow down and wait? Or plow through so that the "T"s have a lesser road to travel, being that we have been there already?

[Jakers]

Someone needs a history lesson GLBT movement. The transfolks have been right here the whole way (listen up Ken K), but of course gay white men of privilege seem to eclipse the overall needs of the entire GLBT community. Frank is of that ilk, and is so obscured from his own community that he does not even realize he is tearing it down the middle.