Barney Frank to hold ENDA presser on Wednesday

Well, this was Nancy Pelosi's timetable

all along. Hate Crimes and then ENDA.

This is a pretty political move here. Much of it, yes, has to do with the pressure the community is putting on but also to put further pressure on Harry Reid.

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:22:53 PM CDT

Except that hate crimes have been dropped

for the time being.

---

by: Patrick @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:34:06 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

No, the House

has passed Hate Crimes, that is off of their plate and in the Senate's hands.

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:35:22 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

And then it was stuck as rider on a tourism bill

And then it was killed for the summer.

IOW, it's off the table again.

God save ornery old queens! - kevinchi

---

by: Keori @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:38:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

No, it's not dead in the Senate just yet

in fact Holder is supposed to speak on the hate crimes bill this week.

The House has passed this legislation for this session, I believe (not sure of the rules on that). They don't have to take it up again until a new Congress (is that correct?)

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:41:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

The same exact version of the bill would have to pass

both the House and Senate--without that happening, it is effectively not passed.  

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

---

by: MileHighDawg @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:48:15 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Riiiight

and if they're 2 different bills then they have to be reconciled by both houses of Congress and voted on again. Does that apply even for riders, such as what has been proposed for Senate passage?

And in that case, the President needs to do some fierce advocacy. (snark!) Yeah, right.

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:52:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yup.

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

---

by: MileHighDawg @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:10:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Eternal life support

Hate crimes = Terri Schaivo

Until the plug is pulled...hate crimes is in a permanent vegetative state.

---

by: Patrick @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:49:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

We have a whole pack of gay bill "Terri Schaivos"

---

by: Michael Bedwell @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:56:36 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hearing on Matthew Shepard Act

The Senate committee on the Judiciary;

Will hold hearing on Matthew Shepard Act on Thursday June 25th 2009. 10:00AM Room 226 Senate Dirksen building.

Testifying; Eric Holder

I plan on attending

Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving."
-Elizabeth Cady Stanton

---

by: T2inDC @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:54:09 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Why is this a problem?

These are the issues that they wanted to address first. They also happen to be the issues that impact the largest group of people. So what's the problem?

Why have some people decided that DOMA and DADT should be given a higher priority than ENDA and hate crimes?

---

by: SciFi Geek @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 10:47:03 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I actually don't see a lot of that

in this particular thread, to be honest.

By the way, I agree with you on this.

---

by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 10:50:33 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

More talk, more promises

Why doesn't he just introduce the damn thing and shut up about it?  Spend some time actually working on the bill instead of talking about it.  Get it passed and send it on to President Fierce for his signature--if his "spiritual advisers" will permit such a thing.

Quite honestly, as happy as I will be to see ENDA enacted (if it really happens), I still want an apology from the goddamned president.

The American people, taking one with another, are the most timorous, sniveling, poltroonish, ignominious mob of serfs and goose-steppers ever gathered under one flag in Christendom since the end of the Middle Ages.
-H.L. Mencken

---

by: QScribe @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:27:51 PM CDT

I'm with you

this announcement is sooooooooooo anti-climatic for those who keep up with these things simply because it's right on schedule with the timeline Pelosi announced a few months ago. This is more about political plays and photo ops, really.

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:32:04 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Just an interesting FYI

Lets see how fast this move through the process.

On June 3rd John Fleming, R-La introduced HR 2677. The Military Personnel Protection Act of 2009. It is a federal hate-crime protection law for the troops. It would give troops special protection from political or religiously motivated crimes against them.  

Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving."
-Elizabeth Cady Stanton

---

by: T2inDC @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:07:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

If this has been the calendar

all along, that what have people been son angry about? It would seem that they always had LGBT friendly legislation on the time table.  

---

by: SciFi Geek @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 10:40:31 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

2 things

1) Barney Frank and the trans issue.

2) The appearence of the the shell game when it comes to LGBT issues. A lot of activity but no Congressional action. And no use of the bully pulpit from the president.

---

by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 10:47:02 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

There is no reason...

that the President has to get involved in this if it can pass. In fact its probably for the best if it happens quietly without much mention from the WH.

---

by: SciFi Geek @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 10:49:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

In the House it probably will pass

The Senate will be a problem, though. And the President might need to get involved in that. besides, he bring his fierce advocacy out of the closet.

---

by: kevinchi @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 10:53:20 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

I agree

It feels like waiting for a reservation, while starving to death...

---

by: Louise @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:33:03 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

More than just introducing it--

Introduce it and then get it out of committee.

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

---

by: MileHighDawg @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:54:29 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

How Exciting

For the 25th time, ENDA is being introduced in the House on the heels of Barney Frank's defense of the awful DOJ DOMA brief.  Apparently, Barney got his marching orders.  "Quell the riots and do something."  So he trotted out this tired piece of failed legislation that will likely pass the House then rot in the Senate once again.  Meanwhile, the Domestic Partner benefit act remains mired in committee with little hope of seeing a vote, and the repeal of DOMA and DADT are mere figments of our political imagination.  

Let's celebrate this momentous occasion as Barney does the dirty work for the Obama team and tries to keep the gays quiet and placated.  Here's my suggestion:  

"Fuck you Barney and fuckl you Pelosi.  Another news conference about introducing legislation?  When can we have one about signing legislation?"  

I know, I am supposed to be happy that something is moving, but right now I am too damn mad and distrustful to think of this as anything other than another political sideshow!  

---

by: salemlawyer @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:32:27 PM CDT

Yeah, it's this whole

press release and dog and pony show that's ticking me off about this. Of course, all of this is for the cameras and for an uninformed public (some of which includes the gay community, sadly!)

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:38:30 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Heard this one before, eh?

Yeah, I think I can name this tune in two notes:

"Don't stop believing" in the DNC...give us money and we'll periodically trot out a bill to make it appear that we are working for you.  

Soon enought the furor dies down and we have you convinced that YOU didn't do enough to get the majority party to support the bill and you will write more checks and attend more fundraisers and support organizations that support us so we can keep doing what we do...which is nothing.

---

by: Patrick @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:39:20 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Yeah- and look

how well "Don't Stop Believing" worked for Tony and family...

---

by: Louise @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:56:57 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I think I would rather

have no rights, then the empty promises of rights undelivered.

---

by: Guy in SF @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:51:48 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

A sad, cynical reading of the situation

Which is almost certainly true.  

---

by: Clarknt67 @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:16:10 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I would give anything to be wrong

and my greatest fear is that I am not.

---

by: salemlawyer @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 08:44:11 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

The shell game is in full force!

Look under here:

Hate crimes bill submitted!!  (oops lets wait on that one)

Look under here:

Benefits for federal employees!! (oops not really)

Look under here:

Same-sex families will be counted in the census!! (but will the stats be used?  and to what end?)

Look under here:

Cockail parties, celebrations, balloons, proclamations!! (but not all of you are invited and we aren't really celebrating anything WE did, just what YOU did)

Look under here:

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrre's ENDA!!  (tribute to Ed McMahon)

Oh and don't look under here (just look the other way, please...pretend it doesn't matter):

DOMA brief

Keep 'em guessing...and writing checks...that's the shell game...you won't know what hit you.

---

by: Patrick @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:46:20 PM CDT

While much of this is razzle dazzle 3 card monty

Some the community needs to OWN too.
We need to prioritize what we insist on FIRST, SECOND, THIRD.
This scatter shot ruderless, leaderless chaos could set us up to lose several battles in quick sucession, instead of winning, one, and building on that momentum.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

---

by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 17:40:14 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Sounds like it's time to hit the streets

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:53:23 PM CDT

YES!! Hit the streets with me to the White House!

Knights Out sponsors SLDN's March on the White House Saturday June 27th
If you can't march with Knights Out in San Francisco, please march with SLDN in Washington DC on Saturday June 27th.

Led by the fighting Cook v. Gates plaintiffs (service members discharged under DADT), SLDN and other community organizations, including Knights Out, will be marching to the White House on Saturday, June 27 to call upon President Obama to break his silence on "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." The first 265 marchers will be veterans and service members. This is the number of service members discharged since January 20 when the President took office. In addition, family and friends of service members will be attending to implore the president to lead the way with lawmakers to get repeal done in this Congress and to end discrimination in the military. One doesn't need to be a veteran or on active duty to show up and support our LGBT troops, one only needs to be committed to equality for all.

Together, we have a real opportunity to deliver a powerful message to the White House, Congress, and to the American people, and to let our service members know they have not been forgotten. Sign up at www.sldn.org/265 and represent!

If you don't have one yet, it's not too late to order a Knights Out t-shirt from SpiritCPT@knightsout.org or http://www.knightsout.org/store

Assembly is at Farragut Square at 2:00pm. The group will march to the White House from there.

 

Come, come, my conservative friend, wipe the dew off your spectacles, and see that the world is moving."
-Elizabeth Cady Stanton

---

by: T2inDC @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:59:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Hey, I'm in Chicago

I can't make it to DC.

and, incidentally, they will turn down permits for protesting near Obama's Hyde Park home.

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:01:02 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Ornery old minds want to know:

Will the Saturday demo's "powerful message" include an unequivocal demand that Obama IMMEDIATELY freeze discharges...then lead Congress toward repeal?

---

by: Michael Bedwell @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:02:12 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Inquiry #2:

Are representatives of Servicemembers United attending?

---

by: Michael Bedwell @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:03:43 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

LOL

Ornery but greatly treasured and appreciated, Michael. :)

---

by: kevinchi @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:08:32 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Could we do it WHEN CONGRESS & POTUS

....will actually be in town?

Oh, the heresy of "ornery old queens."

:- )

---

by: Michael Bedwell @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 15:59:07 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Please don't use transpeople as human shields

All I can say to this is if you're going to do it, drop transgender people now. Don't introduce the thing, let us take the heat from the fundies, have all of us endure six months of non-stop "MEN IN DRESSES RAPING WOMEN IN THE POTTY" and then after we've taken all the heat, toss us away so you can get rights for GLB, but not T.

If you're willing to discard us. Do it now and we can watch the fundies spend six months attacking gay men as pedophiles or whatever bullshit they concoct.

So drop us now, or don't drop us at all. Either one, but there is a very real human cost to being the target of fundie hate through these campaigns. Don't put us through that if you're not there for the whole trip.

Don't use us as human shields.

---

by: kathygnome @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:07:32 PM CDT

If the powers that be try that again

They will definitely be hearing loudly from this (non-trans) GWM.  

---

by: Clarknt67 @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:13:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thank you sincerely, Clark (n/t)

---

by: Jake @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 17:04:42 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

No need to thank me, it's OUR fight together

---

by: Clarknt67 @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 21:45:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I have no intention of dropping Ts

1)  It's the right thing to do.  Leave no part of the community behind.

2)  From a strictly self-preservationist point of view for the people that would sacrifice the T part of the community, leaving out gender identity puts a loophole in ENDA that you could drive a truck through.  So if you're not going to do it because it's the right thing to do and you've got enough spine to do the right thing, maybe you'll do it out of sheer selfishness.

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

---

by: MileHighDawg @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:16:45 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

ENDA loophole

that goes something like this?  "We didn't ask Joe or Jane to leave our employ for being gay or lesbian, but he or she was so femmy or mannish he or she made our patrons/customers/clients feel uncomfortable...."

---

by: Jake @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 17:03:23 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Even better:

Everyone knows that anyone that men should be kissing women.  Because Bob was seen kissing Jim (after hours and far from the workplace), he was acting like a woman, therefore we fired him for not conforming to gender roles, not his orientation.

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

---

by: MileHighDawg @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 17:33:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

What ENDA doesn't cover

Enda will for sure be a welcomed tool in fighting bigotry and bias in the work place and it's sure to safe some jobs as people both MTF and FTM transition on the job,but the one thing it won't do is cover Gender Expression ie: anyone who doesn't have a diagnosis Gender Idenity Condition and there's a huge differant between Gender Idenity and Gender Exspression.

Brandi Parker  

---

by: sweetbrandigirl @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 19:59:27 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Incorrect

It will cover GI, GE, and SO.

The triumvirate.

Hate crimes does not explicitly state GI, but does cover it by incorporating GI into GE (which is a fairly correct way of setting it up).

THe bill is identical to the original with the exception of religious exemptions, and I have it available on my website.

There, they do the reverse -- they incorporate expression as part of Gender Identity:

GENDERIDENTITY - The term `genderidentity' means the gender related identity , appearance, or mannerisms or other gender related characteristics of an individual, with or without regard to the individual's designated sex at birth.

Note that expression is defined as appearance, mannersims, or other gender related characteristics in all other law, so, ultimately, Brandi, you are incorrect.

Sorry, but you should know as a former Equality Rep to check your facts first.


http://www.dyssonance.com  Breaking all the rules...

---

by: dyssonance @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 20:57:50 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I'm not so sure

it will work that way since Gender Identity must be diagnosis....I seriouly doubt that there just going to allow for the taking of peoples word for it that they have the opposite gender Identity from thier birth sex....but we shall see.

Brandi  

---

by: sweetbrandigirl @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 22:42:00 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

except that you avoid the fact...

... that everyone has a gender identity.

Everyone.

And the law has to cover everyone.

So there's no choice in the matter of accepting them or not -- either way they will be challenged under the law, dx or none.

The only value in that dx is in medical areas, Brandi, where treatment is needed, and there are more transsexual transwomen out there without it thant there are with it.


http://www.dyssonance.com  Breaking all the rules...

---

by: dyssonance @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 22:56:47 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

No victim mentality, please

Well, I certainly hope the votes are there for gender identity and expression this time. Unfortunately, the last time, the votes weren't there for gender identity. Therefore, the trans community was not "sacrificed".

People need to stop with this victim mentality. It gets old, real old.

And folks need to ditch this all-or-nothing mindset with the belief that there is this one so-called "LGBT" community that is joined-at-the-hip. Nothing could be further from the truth and legislators know this.

Fortunately, Barney Frank and others were not intimidated by the San Francisco style tactics of in-your-face activists who had the audacity to demand that a vote for ENDA be pulled, simply because the votes for gender identity weren't there.  That's hardly a reason to pull federal legislation that would have helped millions of gays and lesbians.

Congressman Frank is to be applauded for standing up for the needs of the gays and lesbians in states with no employment protections.

People need to remember that ENDA was a scaled back version of a comprehensive federal gay and lesbian civil rights bill from the 1970's.  Therefore a sexual orientation-only ENDA is not "watered down" or half a loaf. That's the real ENDA.

In the early 1990's, overconfident, pushy activists began adding other categories like gender identity and gender non-conformity and began pressuring non-profits to amend their mission statements to include gender identity (under threat of protests -- "we'll be your worst enemy if you don't do this").

Not exactly a good strategy for coalition building, is it?

What I find especially galling is the meddling by activists, national non-profits and other loons in places like San Francisco and New York who have no clue how congress works.

I support a trans-inclusive ENDA, but if the votes aren't there for gender identity, we absolutely move forward with a sexual orientation ENDA. That's reality, folks. Civil rights come in increments.

I vehemently oppose that arrogant all-or-nothing strategy that would have thrown countless gays and lesbians under the bus in states with no protection. To even consider that is the epitome of selfishness.

I hope people learned their lesson from last time. The trans community bet the farm on that doomed all-or-nothing strategy, and ranted and protested and trashed HRC-- all to no avail.  The Queer Nation tactics don't work. It only alienates people who would have been your allies, but now may not want anything to do with you.

This is precisely why I reject the notion of one "LGBT" community. Always have. I've always opposed fusing the two communities and movements. This was done by pushy activists in the name of political expedience (2 for the price of 1) and activists assumed that legislators wouldn't know the difference when the time came for a vote. (Wrong!!)

If the votes aren't there for gender identity, it means you're going to have to wait. And you need to warm up to this real possibility.

Meanwhile, the gay and lesbian community will celebrate this watershed moment.

---

by: JJ in Chicago @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 22:16:18 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I fully support inclusive ENDA

with the sole exception of people who post under the username "JJ in Chicago".

After all, the votes just aren't there to support passage of ENDA that includes "JJ in Chicago"s.  Please don't take this as a criticism of you.  There is no monolithic LG community that includes "JJ in Chicago"s.

Or, perhaps, we could follow Dallas Principle 2:  We will not leave any part of our community behind.

On second thought, that sounds like the moral position to take, doesn't it?

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

---

by: MileHighDawg @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 22:25:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Thank you so much for telling us what we "need to" do.

How else would we ever know we're expected to be good little queers and stand with our hats in our hands, begging for crumbs?

Meanwhile, you "need to" look at last year's fiasco more realistically.  The only authority we have for the votes for gender identity "not being there" is Barney Frank, who is hardly a reliable source on any subject involving trans people.  There's a good chance the votes would have been there if we'd had any real leadership on the issue.  But....leadership from the Democrats?!  We'll see the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse first.

The American people, taking one with another, are the most timorous, sniveling, poltroonish, ignominious mob of serfs and goose-steppers ever gathered under one flag in Christendom since the end of the Middle Ages.
-H.L. Mencken

---

by: QScribe @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 22:26:49 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

it isn't victim mentality, it's respecting ALLIES

if America isn't ready to provide MINIMAL protection for all the LGBT community...........I'll WAIT, with my friends.
The SELFISH "I'll get mine and f*ck you" attitude was dispicable...IMO. THAT ended my being willing to fund HRC, after 20 yrs of giving to them.

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

---

by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 22:45:52 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

@jj in Chicago

here's what I think answers you PERFECTLY

   http://www.youtube.com/watch?f...

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

---

by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 22:53:01 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

JJ, you have it backward

If you think about it for a minute, the term "transgender" is a term that covers any gendered attributes that are counter to the extreme, assumed, ideal aggregation of attributes for either male or female.  

Ignore for the moment that, in reality, that aggregated set of attributes does not fully exist in any one person.  Any behaviour that does not fit in as "%100 male" or "%100 female" is transgender to some degree.

Think about that for a minute.  Keep thinking...let it sink in.  There, you go.  With just that little shift in perspective, you can see that being GLB is an aspect that is just as "trans gender" as drag, crossdressing or GID.  Whether you wear the clothes of the 'other' gender, love the partner of the 'other' gender or need the body of the 'other' gender, you fall somewhere in the realm of transgender.  

To try to exclude the other (i.e., non-"gay") trans gender attributes from something like ENDA would therefore be quite bigoted.  It would also be quite short-sighted, as you could then be fired for any of those other attributes or even assumption of the same.  

---

by: sarasnavel @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 23:48:01 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

It's a pretty big loophole, isn't it?

You could drive a moving truck through it.

# Duty, duty -- honor is, is --
Honor, Creideiki -- alertly
# Shared, is -- Honor #

---

by: MileHighDawg @ Wed Jun 24, 2009 at 07:25:19 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Just amazing

I'm just flabbergasted at this comment.

All or nothing is the game all of us are playing, and I would argue that trans people are much more likely to be playing that game than gays and lesbians.

Frankly, I am tired of some gays and lesbians using the GLBT acronym, when really what they mean is G & L only. If you want to throw us under the bus, fine, but I'm going to call things the way I see them: 1) your attitude shows the shadow side of repressed transphobia, and 2) I think ENDA is almost entirely superfluous for gays and lesbians. The claim that it would help millions of gays and lesbians is preposterous. Thousands, maybe. Tens of thousand possibly. Millions, No effing way.

For trans people on the other hand, particularly for those who transition on the job, ENDA could provide protections that would have a dramatic effect upon outcomes of transition. It would keep us employed during the period when our out of pocket expenses are the highest (because so many idiots seem to think transition is a cosmetic surgery, and shouldn't be covered by insurance) What equivalent episode do gays and lesbians go through in the context of employment? Answer: none.

So yea, talk about votes all you want, but you know what? You will get (maybe) an empty law that is 1) not enforced, 2) not well defined, and 3) a distraction and palliative to the G&L community to send them into a somnolescent sleep. Meanwhile, things will get very bad for all who drift outside of socially acceptable gender boundaries.

But oh, that's right... the votes aren't there for their rights... uh huh... gotcha...

---

by: Christine Johnson @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 23:57:39 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Barney, Barney, Barney, What Are We Going to Do with You?

Is it wrong to expect more from our gay and lesbian members of Congress?

I know he (and Pelosi, of course) played an instrumental role in selling last fall's $900 billion bailout of George Bush's criminal pals on Wall Street, but how does this further the struggle for LGBT rights?

Maybe Barney has stayed too long at the fair. It's time for him to bid adieu.    

People ask, "How have you guys managed to stay so long?" I tell them, "Don't sweat the small stuff." It's mostly small stuff.

---

by: christopher di spirito @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:22:50 PM CDT

He's on very thin ice

with his support of the DOMA brief. If he pulls the same stunt he did last time, it will be over for him.

Fetch my pearls, I need to clutch them!

---

by: RainbowPhoenix @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 16:42:48 PM CDT

"All over" meaning that in his next election,

Frank will win by only 65% of the vote instead of 70% as in 2008?

---

by: Pollyanna @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 20:36:55 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

cuz ENDA is Barney's strong suit?

not so much

What have you done today, to make ya feel PROUD?


~Heather Small

---

by: peteyPornpig @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 17:35:29 PM CDT

Only 10 co-sponsors so far

All who will be at the press conference plus two.
Rep Andrews, Robert E. [NJ-1] - 6/19/2009
Rep Baldwin, Tammy [WI-2] - 6/19/2009
Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] - 6/19/2009
Rep Conyers, John, Jr. [MI-14] - 6/19/2009
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] - 6/19/2009
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] - 6/19/2009
Rep Miller, George [CA-7] - 6/19/2009
Rep Platts, Todd Russell [PA-19] - 6/19/2009
Rep Polis, Jared [CO-2] - 6/19/2009
Rep Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana [FL-18] - 6/19/2009
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/...
Hopefully that number will grow.

---

by: Karen in Kalifornia @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 18:38:10 PM CDT

H.R.2981

Forgot to add bill # useful to track these things.

---

by: Karen in Kalifornia @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 18:38:53 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

I don't know where the press release gets 100 co-sponsors

That's not what thomas/gov says.
Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Thomas page also says this bill will be introduced into 3 committees...so it's got a ways to go.

Referred to the Committee on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committees on House Administration, Oversight and Government Reform, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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by: Karen in Kalifornia @ Tue Jun 23, 2009 at 18:41:30 PM CDT

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