In this exclusive audio interview Emmy Winner Charlotte Robinson host of OUTTAKE VOICES™ talks with Congressman Barney Frank, (D-MA). Congressman Frank was in attendance at Assi Azar’s coming out film MOM & DAD: I HAVE SOMETHING TO TELL YOU in celebration of OUT in ISRAEL MONTH. Throughout the month of November advocacy organizations in and around Boston have joined together along with politicians, filmmakers, artists, musicians, students and other activists to celebrate the vibrant LGBT communities in Israel and Massachusetts. We talked to Congressman Frank to get his spin on the film, LGBTQ teen bullying and federal LGBT civil rights.
When asked if he thought in the next year anymore (federal) legislation has a chance of passing Congressman Frank stated, “None whatsoever with the Republicans in charge. The only chance you ever have to adopt pro LGBT legislation is if you have a Democratic President, House and Senate. I wish that wasn’t the case. In 1976 Jimmy Carter and Gerry Ford were equal on the LGBT issues. Since then the Democrats have gotten a lot better, not quite perfect and the Republicans have gotten a lot worse. So long as you have Republicans in power there simply is no chance. I do believe if we were to get a Democratic House, Senate and President we could move forward with some things but as long as the Republicans are in power we have to hold our own. In fact if you were to get a Republican President we would have to face the very real likelihood I think of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” to be reinstated by that President.”
Openly gay Congressman Barney Frank and Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) are Co-Chairs of the Congressional LGBT Caucus. As part of the “It Gets Better Project,” they recently released a video message of hope and encouragement to our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and those questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity. They are joined by the other two openly gay members of Congress, Jared Polis (D-CO) and David Cicilline (D-RI).
For More Info: trevorproject.org
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