Barney Talks About ENDA's Future, Saying Dems Are the "Only Way"

[Shana A]

Barney Talks About ENDA's Future, Saying Dems Are the "Only Way"
Posted by Chris Geidner |
November 29, 2011 5:30 PM

http://www.metroweekly.com/poliglot/2011/11/barney-talks-about-endas-future.html

One day after announcing that he would not be seeking re-election to Congress, Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) told reporters today that pro-LGBT legislation can only be passed under Democratic control.

"The only way you can get any law passed that fights discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity is if you have a Democratic president, House and Senate," Frank told reporters at the Capitol Visitor Center today. "Now, people don't realize how rarely we have had that. We've had a Democratic president, House and Senate for four years out of the 32 I've been in Congress," referring to the two years Democrats achieved that status during President Clinton's first term and the first two years of President Obama's presidency.

[...]

Regarding ENDA, specifically, he said, "There were two problems. First of all, there was a crowded agenda. ... And then there was this issue of transgender inclusion. My own state of Massachusetts ... showed a way to break thorough that. Now, I might get an argument with some of my allies and friends here about the dimensions of that. The Massachusetts legislature just passed and the governor signed a bill that prohibits discrimination against people based on gender identity -- they already had one about sexual orientation -- but it's about employment, it does not include public accommodations. It avoids the whole issue of what happens in locker rooms and bathrooms."

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Barney Frank on ENDA's Future After His Retirement [Open Thread]

Filed By Bil Browning | November 29, 2011 6:00 PM

http://www.bilerico.com/2011/11/barney_frank_on_endas_future_after_his_retirement.php?fb_comment_id=fbc_10150485369033582_20607036_10150487213183582#f30cdc72384eeb8

Presented without commentary... I'd rather hear what y'all have to say about Representative Barney Frank's idea on how to pass ENDA.

[Julie Marie]

One thing the Republicans have proven time and again, if there is anything out there that even remotely hints at raising taxes for the rich, they will oppose it, squash it, reduce it to rubble and disintegrate it.  They have also kind of hinted they really are uncomfortable with the whole gay and transgender thing, probably because so many are in the closet.

But Barney may be wrong about the Dems being the only LGBT hope.  If we can figure out how to reduce taxes for the rich even further and tie that to LGBT rights, even if the bathroom issue is attached to it, I think the Pubs will go for it.  I'm sure we can get the most powerful man in Washington, lobbyist Grover Norquist, to create another pledge.

"I solemnly pledge that as long as the LGBT community supports continued tax reductions for the rich, I will support their equal rights, even to the point of allowing transgender women to use the ladies' bathroom."

I think I'll give Grover a call now.