Local Issues
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Congressman Barney Frank today released a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, both praising him for his handling of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and challenging him for his claim that military spending cuts will “hollow out” our national defense.
WASHINGTON – Congressman Barney Frank today released this statement about the passing of LGBT rights pioneer Frank Kameny.
Frank addresses a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder requesting that he consider family ties of LGBT individuals when determining cases that should be relieved from deportation
"We have a history in this country of prejudice being enacted," Frank said, and through the efforts of many people, the policy embodied in that prejudice can be overcome," Frank said. "And as we debate any single effort to overcome prejudice we are told that the effect of diminishing that prejudice, the effect of repealing that rule, will be chaos, will be disorder, will be social unrest, and it is never true."
NEWTON, MA – Congressman Barney Frank today released his testimony in favor of a Massachusetts bill which would extend legal protections which now cover gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals to also include transgender people. The testimony was presented in writing to the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary, which is holding a hearing on the legislation today.
Rep. Barney Frank has asked President Obama to veto the National Defense Authorization Act if it contains language that delays the end of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prohibits gay service members from openly declaring their sexuality.
NEWTON, MA -- Congressman Barney Frank today released a letter addressed to President Obama, requesting that he formally threaten to veto the Defense Authorization bill if it contains language that could undermine the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Barney Frank today released the following statement regarding news that the parliament of Uganda is on the verge of passing a bill to deny LGBT individuals basic human rights.
Congressman Barney Frank, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee, today introduced an amendment in committee which would have the effect of pressuring countries which persecute people on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or religious belief. Although most votes in the committee have broken along party lines, Congressman Frank’s amendment passed the Committee with near-unanimous support.
A U.S. House committee on Tuesday approved an amendment to major Treasury department legislation that would pressure countries overseas that persecute LGBT people or religious minority groups. The House Financial Services Committee passed the measure, introduced by gay Rep. Barney Frank.
"I can foresee now an end to legal inequality based on sexual orientation and gender equality some time in my lifetime," said Frank, who turned 70 three days ago.
“Reality will very soon make it clear that there is nothing to worry about,” Mr. Frank said. He called the signing the biggest civil rights moment in the nation since the signing of voting rights legislation in the 1960s. “If you can fight for your country, you can do anything,” he said.
Congressman Barney Frank today released the following statement regarding the announcement by Majority Leader Steny Hoyer that the House will consider a stand-alone bill to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Congressman Barney Frank today released this statement in response to Defense Secretary Robert Gates’ request for Congress to move quickly to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
Congressman Barney Frank today released the following statement about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”
President Barack Obama today signed legislation which will expand the definition of violent hate crimes to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability. The new law will also allow the federal government to assist in the prosecution of hate crimes.
The US House of Representatives today voted in favor of legislation containing the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, which extends the definition of violent hate crimes to include gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability.
Congressmen Barney Frank and Jared Polis today released a letter they sent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, commending Israeli police for pledging to give the highest priority to apprehending the gunman who killed three young Israelis at an LGBT Youth Center in Tel Aviv on Saturday.
Representatives Barney Frank (D-MA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Jared Polis (D-CO) today held a press conference to announce the introduction of the 2009 Employment Non-Discrimination Act.
Text of Barney Frank's testimony about the Massachusetts bill “An Act Relative to Gender-Based Discrimination and Hate Crimes” (H. 1728/S. 1687) before the Massachusetts’ Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
Congressman Barney Frank's Statement about Attorney General Coakley's Lawsuit Challenging the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
Congressman Barney Frank issued the following statement in response to a newspaper story regarding his position on the brief by the Department of Justice about Smelt v. United States.
Barney Frank today announced that legislation to assist state and local law enforcement with investigation and prosecution of hate crimes is moving forward in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Congressman Barney Frank today welcomed the decision holding that the Library of Congress broke the law against sex discrimination by denying a job to an applicant solely because she transitioned from male to female.
I want to offer to my friends in California both congratulations and reassurance.