News and Events => Political and Legal News => Topic started by: Shana A on February 02, 2009, 03:31:24 PM Return to Full Version
Title: Frank’s New Face
Post by: Shana A on February 02, 2009, 03:31:24 PM
Post by: Shana A on February 02, 2009, 03:31:24 PM
Frank's New Face
Barely over a year since transgender activists labeled Barney Frank a turncoat, he's hired the first openly transgender legislative staff member on Capitol Hill.
By Anne Stockwell
From The Advocate March 2009
http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid71765.asp (http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid71765.asp)
Before diego sanchez came to washington, d.c., he was a PR executive for Fortune 100 companies. "I introduced Diet Coke, which was an elation," he says, "and then I introduced 'new Coke,' which wasn't so hot." Sanchez, U.S. representative Barney Frank's new legislative assistant and the first openly transgender person to work in a federal congressional office, is charged with helping Frank pass an all-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act -- a bill that covers not just sexual orientation but gender identity as well -- in the first Obama Congress.
Seen in PR terms, the 2007 ENDA rollout was a new Coke–level fiasco. Deeply divisive among LGBT people, it was bruising for Frank, who was called a traitor for successfully backing a sexual orientation–only ENDA instead of losing with the previous trans-inclusive incarnation. While the bill passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 235 to 184, it will have to go before both the House and Senate in the new Congress. Sanchez says Frank didn't fail the transgender population. "He told us the truth at the time [that the bill wouldn't pass with transgender protections], and it didn't feel good, but that's what he does," Sanchez says. "At the end of the day it's all about a vote. All the desire in the world doesn't make law."
Barely over a year since transgender activists labeled Barney Frank a turncoat, he's hired the first openly transgender legislative staff member on Capitol Hill.
By Anne Stockwell
From The Advocate March 2009
http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid71765.asp (http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid71765.asp)
Before diego sanchez came to washington, d.c., he was a PR executive for Fortune 100 companies. "I introduced Diet Coke, which was an elation," he says, "and then I introduced 'new Coke,' which wasn't so hot." Sanchez, U.S. representative Barney Frank's new legislative assistant and the first openly transgender person to work in a federal congressional office, is charged with helping Frank pass an all-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act -- a bill that covers not just sexual orientation but gender identity as well -- in the first Obama Congress.
Seen in PR terms, the 2007 ENDA rollout was a new Coke–level fiasco. Deeply divisive among LGBT people, it was bruising for Frank, who was called a traitor for successfully backing a sexual orientation–only ENDA instead of losing with the previous trans-inclusive incarnation. While the bill passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 235 to 184, it will have to go before both the House and Senate in the new Congress. Sanchez says Frank didn't fail the transgender population. "He told us the truth at the time [that the bill wouldn't pass with transgender protections], and it didn't feel good, but that's what he does," Sanchez says. "At the end of the day it's all about a vote. All the desire in the world doesn't make law."