The Top Five Straight Allies in Congress for 2009

Who are the leading advocates for LGBT rights inside the Beltway? Well, common sense would lead you to the three openly gay and lesbian politicians currently serving in the U.S. Congress –- Rep. Tammy Baldwin, Rep. Barney Frank, and Rep. Jared Polis. Great or legendary figures, but what happens when you get beyond these three folks?

5. Senator Tom Harkin – Iowa Sen. Tom Harkin did what a handful of Senators did this year –- publicly stated that he regretted his vote on the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996. Harkin joined Sen. Arlen Specter and Sen. Chris Dodd in denouncing their vote for DOMA. But Harkin had a sense of eloquence in his comments that made his thoughts seem particularly genuine. It also helps that they came right after Iowa’s Supreme Court ruled that the state’s constitution required the recognition of same-sex marriage in order to ensure equal rights for all of Iowa's residents. Talk about reinforcements. “We all grow as we get older, and we learn things and we become more sensitive to people and people’s lives,” Harkin said. “And the more I’ve looked at that, I’ve grown to think differently about how people — how we should live. And I guess I’m at the point that, you know — I’m to that point of live and let live.” Anyone else see visions of their own parents in that statement?

4. Rep. Earl Blumenauer – Count Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer among the legislators blasting the Defense of Marriage Act. Like Sen. Harkin above, Rep. Blumenauer also issued a blaring statement regretting his original vote for DOMA. (Note: Nothing is quite so blaring as one of Rep. Blumenauer’s bow ties.) But Blumenauer not only said he was regretful – he went so far as to say it was the worst vote he ever cast in his entire political career. And that covers more than 37 years (we’re going all the way back to the times of Richard Nixon). Blumenauer also said that he would lobby his fellow legislators in efforts to overturn DOMA. “I will work to make sure that my colleagues who once, for whatever reason, joined me in supporting [DOMA] take this opportunity to correct their record and eliminate an injustice,” said Blumenauer.

3. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand – Talk about crossing the ocean in support of LGBT rights. New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand started this year as kind of a Blue Dog Democrat in the U.S. House, and is ending this year as one of the Senate’s biggest supporters for equal rights. Gillibrand is one of the lead voices in the U.S. Senate for repealing the military’s discriminatory “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, and in an interview with the Women’s Rights blog here at change.org, went so far as to say that marriage equality could be the civil rights battle of today’s generation. She even tried to exert some pull with the New York State Senate, encouraging the body to vote for marriage equality legislation earlier this year (sadly, that vote failed). And to top it off? She’s also a supporter of a fully inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), which ought to be a legislative goal for every LGBT rights activist in 2010.

2. Rep. Patrick Murphy – As the first Iraq War veteran to serve in the halls of Congress, Pennsylvania Rep. Patrick Murphy certainly has the bonafides to talk about military issues. That’s why his voice on ending “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is so critical. But Rep. Murphy isn’t just a casual proponent of repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” He’s a downright leader on the issue, making it one of his legislative goals, and touring with the Human Rights Campaign’s “Voices of Honor” tour, calling attention to how eliminating gays and lesbians from the U.S. Armed Forces not only smacks in the face of equality and freedom – the very principles that our military stands for – but also threatens our national security. “‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ clearly isn’t working for our military, and it hinders national security and military readiness at a time when America is fighting in two wars in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Rep. Murphy said. “My time in Iraq taught me that our military needs and deserves the best and the brightest who are willing to serve -- and that means all Americans, regardless of their orientation.” Anybody have the resume to argue with Rep. Murphy on that? Didn’t think so.

1. (Tie) Rep. Joe Sestak - Another Pennsylvania Congressman, Rep. Joe Sestak has emerged as a fighter for LGBT equality. As Rep. Sestak wrote for change.org earlier this year, one of the fights that keeps him going in politics is the battle to end the only form of institutionalized discrimination still legal in the U.S. – discrimination against LGBT people, as evident by policies like the Defense of Marriage Act and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” In fact, that’s one of the best things about Rep. Sestak – he draws the connection between both of those bad policies in ways that would make even the hardest heart melt. “How can we demand that the 65,000 of our troops who are estimated to be gay act dishonestly and conceal information from their comrades and commanders? No one who serves in defense of liberty should be forced to live a lie,” writes Rep. Sestak. “I cannot imagine denying equal rights to anyone I served with. How can anyone say, we fought and served together, we depended on one another, we risked our lives for this country, but back home you shouldn’t enjoy the rights that you defended?”

1. (Tie) Rep. Jerrold Nadler – Being the lead voice in the U.S. Congress on dumping the Defense of Marriage Act better be good enough to get you first place! Rep. Nadler, long one of the biggest allies the LGBT population has in Congress, continued his streak of homerun hitting for equal rights. This year it came in the form of introducing the Respect for Marriage Act. It’s a proposed piece of legislation that will dismantle DOMA, billed by many as the most discriminatory law passed by the U.S. in decades. Rep. Nadler’s reason for introducing the Respect for Marriage Act (ROMA, if you will!): he wants to send DOMA “into the history books where it belongs.”

Crossposted via Gay Rights @ Change.org

Word of the Gay: "Frank Rule"

The "frank rule" is that a person who uses their power to hurt or deny LGBT people of their civil rights can be outed if they are a closeted gay. The term was coined because this is the stance of U.S. Representative Barney Frank one of three openly gay representatives in the house.

Boycott DNC LGBT Fundraiser

Vice-president Joe Biden will be hosting a DNC LGBT fundraiser next week at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Washington, DC. An individual plate is 1,000 dollars and up and many people have already pulled out due to the administrations lack of action on LGBT issues, and their anti-gay defense of DOMA and DADT.

Among those who have already pulled out are HRC’s National Field Director Marty Rouse, Empire State Pride Agenda’s Alan Van Capelle, Former top Clinton aide David Mixner, Former top Clinton aide Richard Socarides and Towleroad’s Andy Towle and Corey Johnson (AKA William).

The three openly LGBT members of congress are attending the event and have yet to make any statements against the Department of Justices anti-gay defense of DOMA.

Contact our LGBT representatives and let them know that if they attend this event they are abandoning the LGBT community for their own interests.

Rep. Barney Frank:
2252 Rayburn Building
Washington, DC 20515
tel: (202) 225-5931
fax: (202) 225-0182

Rep. Tammy Baldwin
2446 Rayburn Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-6942 Fax
(202) 225-2906
Email Form

Rep. Jared Polis
Washington, DC Office
501 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
p. 202.225.2161
f. 202.226.7840

Urge Congress to Support the Stonewall Resolution

The National Center for Lesbian Rights is urging us to support The Stonewall Resolution, also known as H.R. 433 which was introduced in the United States House of Representatives by Representatives Jerrold Nadler, Tammy Baldwin, Barney Frank, and Jared Polis.

The Stonewall Inn, a popular LGBT bar in the Greenwich Village section of New York City, was raided by police in late June 1969. The resulting protests were a vivid demonstration by LGBT people of their resolve to publicly resist government harassment and discrimination. These actions, collectively referred to as “Stonewall,” helped inspire unprecedented activism for LGBT rights and fair treatment. For these reasons, Stonewall occupies a rightful place in the history of the LGBT community, and of the nation as a whole.

H.R. 433 pays homage to this history and, appropriately, recognizes both how far we’ve come as a community and the work that remains to be done.

We are urging our supporters to contact their Congressional representatives and asking them to co-sponsor this resolution. Please call the U.S. Capitol Switchboard at 202.224.3121. Ask to be connected to your Representative's office.

Tammy Baldwin, Take Your Name Off that List!

CBS News is reporting that lesbian legislator Tammy Baldwin is an Honorary Inaugural Co-Chair. And the press will not be slow to see Baldwin’s inclusion as an endorsement of Warren and as a buffer to criticism against the President-Elect.

Clearly this is but another token of valueless “inclusion” like the marching band. Gays can have a silent and distant honorary place at the table, but the head seat goes to the guy who will “not tolerate” us and thinks we have no human rights and writes tributes to those who seek to imprison us.

Openly gay Barney Frank has already taken a stand. Now it’s time for Tammy Baldwin to show whether she truly cares about the community. It’s time that she decide, is she on the side of that tomboy in Wisconsin who is being told that she’s an abomination, or does she want to be part of the Obama Nation? Does she want to protect the vulnerable, or does she want to win points with the powerful?

Washington Office
2446 Rayburn Building
Washington DC 20515
(202) 225-2906
(202) 225-6942 Fax
E-Contact Form

Crossposted via Box Turtle Bulletin

Red Eye's Greg Gutfeld Spews Out More Queerphobia

Greg Gutfeld who runs the Red Eye show on Fox News is no stranger to controversy. A year ago he engaged in trans bashing against Thomas Beatie the "pregnant man" as seen here and here.

So did Mr. Gutfeld learn his lesson, when he faced criticism by us and many in the LGBT community? Nope.

In his latest show he takes a plug at Barney Frank (D) the openly gay congressman from Massachusetts.

"Look, I don’t dispute that aliens exist, but there are more urgent matters to deal with, other than wrinkly creatures with a knack for anal probing. But enough about Barney Frank...I couldn’t resist."

Below is a video account of the segment.



Contact Fox News and Red Eye and tell them to stop their Homophobia!

Email: redeye@foxnews.com

Phone Fox News: 1-888-369-4762

Demand Apology from Conservative Talk Show Host Lars Larson

"On the October 31 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Lars Larson played a spoof "Barney Frank for President" advertisement, in which a person said: "Hi, everybody. I'm Barney Frank and I'm running for president of the United States. Why? Well, because Nancy Pelosi pissed me off. Harry Reid pissed me off, and so did ol' Barack. Ol' Barack himself pissed me off too. I'm pissed at the Repubicans and the Democraps, and I'm going to run as an independent sort of fellow." The ad concludes: "Now remember, this Erection Day -- Election Day, vote for Barney Frank for President. I'm Barney Fag -- uh, Frank and I approve this massage -- message."



Regardless about how you feel about Barney Frank, the Democrats, or the bailout there is no excuse for homophobic language.

Email the producers of the national show.

Contact Lars Larson himself.

Thank Members of the Newly Formed LGBT Caucus!

Congressman Barney Frank and Tammy Baldwin have announced the formation of the newly formed Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives.

"The mission of the LGBT Equality Caucus is to achieve the extension of equal rights, the repeal of discriminatory laws, the elimination of hate-motivated violence and the improved health and well being for all, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression."

The following are the 52 congressional members of the LGBT caucus. Please take a moment to thank your state representatives for standing up for LGBT equality.

Click here to contact your representatives!

Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Xavier Becerra (D-CA), Lois Capps (D-CA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Keith Ellison (D-MN), Barney Frank (D-MA), Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Mike Honda (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), James McGovern (D-MA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Hilda Solis (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), Henry Waxman (D-CA), Anthony Weiner (D-NY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Howard Berman (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Robert Brady (D-PA), Michael Capuano (D-MA), Susan Davis (D-CA), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Phil Hare (D-IL), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Doris Matsui (D-CA), James Moran (D-VA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-Washington, D.C.), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Steven Rothman (D-NJ), José Serrano (D-NY), Chris Shays (R-CT), Pete Stark (D-CA), Betty Sutton (D-OH), Ellen Tauscher (D-CA), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Robert Wexler (D-FL), Lynn Woolsey (D-CA).

For more info on the news check out Pride Source