...and so it was.
U.S. Representative, Massachusetts 4th, Barnett (Barney) Frank, originally from Bayonne New Jersey (born there March 1940) has declared the National Equity March slated for this Sunday to be useless and 'a waste'. He says it 'misses the mark'. He may be right about it missing the mark, only time will tell on that. The part which I find more troublesome here is, Congressman Frank has the potential of making this march something greater by participating in it himself. By not doing so, he does a disservice to not only himself but to gays and the LGBT community in their collective entirety.
Now, I understand his belief that this will have less of an impact during this particular weekend; as, many Senators and Congresspeople have gone back to their snazzy little homes for the weekend. However, why isn't he in some way proud of the people who are willing to stand up for what they want? Why doesn't he articulate the beauty of seeing democracy in action as these men and women step forward and indicate their want and need for the same rights for themselves as exist for so many others? Why doesn't Mr.Frank, take time this weekend and join the march? He would still have all of Sunday and Monday for himself and his constituents.
Now onto the articles (both through the Associated Press):
Barney Frank says D.C. gay rights march misses mark - BostonHerald.com
which includes this (which has a positive note regarding President Obama and what he is doing tonight (Saturday October 10):
'Many gay rights advocates have criticized President Barack Obama for not moving faster to keep his campaign promises to extend gay rights, and Congress has also drawn flak for not doing more. Obama plans to speak Saturday at a dinner hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest gay rights group.'
and also: ABC 13 - National News which gives this tidbit: 'Frank's comments underscore divisions in the gay community over the pace of progress on civil rights.
President Barack Obama's election and the Democrats' control of the House and Senate, boosted hopes for breakthroughs on sweeping measures to end discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, but there's been little action. March organizers say they're no longer willing to wait quietly.'
This is a matter which effects all of us, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, transgendered, antisexual and globosexual (and others who I have not included due to space limit). To not back this march, Congressman Frank, for all his talk about being gay, becomes about as useless as he says the march itself will be. He should be proud and willing to stand up and be part of a group of people looking to increase rights for all, including Congressman Frank.
(and did you know that 'transgender' is not a word with which spellcheck is familiar)
U.S. Representative, Massachusetts 4th, Barnett (Barney) Frank, originally from Bayonne New Jersey (born there March 1940) has declared the National Equity March slated for this Sunday to be useless and 'a waste'. He says it 'misses the mark'. He may be right about it missing the mark, only time will tell on that. The part which I find more troublesome here is, Congressman Frank has the potential of making this march something greater by participating in it himself. By not doing so, he does a disservice to not only himself but to gays and the LGBT community in their collective entirety.
Now, I understand his belief that this will have less of an impact during this particular weekend; as, many Senators and Congresspeople have gone back to their snazzy little homes for the weekend. However, why isn't he in some way proud of the people who are willing to stand up for what they want? Why doesn't he articulate the beauty of seeing democracy in action as these men and women step forward and indicate their want and need for the same rights for themselves as exist for so many others? Why doesn't Mr.Frank, take time this weekend and join the march? He would still have all of Sunday and Monday for himself and his constituents.
Now onto the articles (both through the Associated Press):
Barney Frank says D.C. gay rights march misses mark - BostonHerald.com
which includes this (which has a positive note regarding President Obama and what he is doing tonight (Saturday October 10):
'Many gay rights advocates have criticized President Barack Obama for not moving faster to keep his campaign promises to extend gay rights, and Congress has also drawn flak for not doing more. Obama plans to speak Saturday at a dinner hosted by the Human Rights Campaign, the nations largest gay rights group.'
and also: ABC 13 - National News which gives this tidbit: 'Frank's comments underscore divisions in the gay community over the pace of progress on civil rights.
President Barack Obama's election and the Democrats' control of the House and Senate, boosted hopes for breakthroughs on sweeping measures to end discrimination against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people, but there's been little action. March organizers say they're no longer willing to wait quietly.'
This is a matter which effects all of us, heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, transgendered, antisexual and globosexual (and others who I have not included due to space limit). To not back this march, Congressman Frank, for all his talk about being gay, becomes about as useless as he says the march itself will be. He should be proud and willing to stand up and be part of a group of people looking to increase rights for all, including Congressman Frank.
(and did you know that 'transgender' is not a word with which spellcheck is familiar)