Barney Frank Takes On Those Worried About 'Radical Homosexual Agenda' (VIDEO)

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) celebrated the repeal of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell earlier this week by admitting he is pursuing a "radical homosexual agenda." Shocker: It doesn't involve turning your children gay.

"It is to be protected against violent crimes driven by bigotry, it's to be able to get married, it's to be able to get a job, and it's to be able to fight for our country," Frank said of the "agenda." "For those who are worried about the radical homosexual agenda, let me put them on notice. Two down, two to go."

The day before President Barack Obama signed the repeal of DADT into law, he addressed the next two bullet points on Frank's checklist, announcing he supports repealing the Defense Of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman and allows states not to recognize bonds of any other nature, as well as the passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would prohibit discrimination against workers based on sexual orientation or gender identity. While he said his opinion on gay marriage is "evolving," the president also indicated he still prefers gay couples opt for civil unions.

WATCH:

As an added bonus, watch Frank take on a reporter from the conservative Cybercast News Service over the issue of gay servicemembers showering alongside their straight colleagues. Frank points out that such situations occurred in the military all the time under DADT and happen, more generally, virtually everywhere public bathing takes place.

Comments

[PhilipB]

12:22 PM on 12/31/2010

Good for Barney Frank. it is high time for those in public office to stand up and speak the truth. This is not only for Gays and lesbians, but a message for all Americans to embrace that the constitution is for all.
Happy New year to all, and may 2011 bring peace, prosperity and justice.

[NMRK]

12:07 PM on 12/30/2010

Social security, medical coverage by employers etc. were all instituted to protect family -- specifically, children. Now we want to change the definition of marriage so that these benefits extend to non-procreating couples. SO we have ruined protection for the family.

When did the definition of "marriage" change to "union of whatever"?

[MsVella]

10:58 AM on 01/18/2011

Gay couples can have children. Hello!

[Ioan Lightoller]

08:49 PM on 12/29/2010

I can't believe so many buy into the lie that there is some deep dark "gay agenda". We have only ONE agenda and it is FULL CIVIL RIGHTS. The SAME civil rights other adults in this country enjoy--including the right to marry the person we love. That's the agemda...equal rights. There, now, is that really so dark and scary?

[WheelsOnFire]

01:07 AM on 12/30/2010

Our opponents will refuse to call or admit that our quest is for civil rights or equality.

Oh, no -- that would make their opposition look unAmerican.

Yeah, because it is.

[youguyscrackmeup]

03:25 PM on 12/29/2010

i love bf!

[David N Taiwan]

08:38 PM on 12/29/2010

I love BF too (both the noun and the verb).

[looknmirror]

07:13 PM on 12/27/2010

barney franks is the best politician money cant buy!

[playflute2]

09:56 AM on 12/27/2010

All I can say is "Go, Barney". A sane voice for gay rights and who better.

[WheelsOnFire]

10:47 AM on 12/27/2010

Exactly.

He now turns his attention to ending discrimination against gays in employment (unbelievable that in 30 states, someone could be fired merely for being gay) and tearing down that appalling piece of bigotry called DOMA.

Unfortunately, he's now up against a deeply and very conservative Republican House. Sisyphus had better odds of success.

[fiscaltiger]

10:16 PM on 12/26/2010

The entire congress of the united states needs to enact recall legislation. The nation should not suffer from the effect of corrupted legislators.

[WheelsOnFire]

09:15 AM on 12/27/2010

No need for such legislation.

If you have proof of corruption, furnish it.

If corruption can be proven, then that elected official can be recalled or dismissed.

[Clint Abear]

05:33 PM on 12/26/2010

at first i thought this was about our mpls/stpaul airport:)

[llozano]

04:10 PM on 12/26/2010

There is a gay agenda. It is to be treated equally and fairly and to have the same rights as anyone else in this country. Got a problem with that?

[David N Taiwan]

08:50 AM on 12/27/2010

Exactly how does having equal rights sacrifice the nation financially?

[WheelsOnFire]

09:19 AM on 12/27/2010

Where's the proof of your claim?

Would you furnish it, please?

And know this -- ending that ugly DADT will save this country millions, easily. It cost tens of thousands to discharge a soldier under the old DADT, and a discharged soldier had to be replaced by a new soldier that required costly recruiting and training activities.

And that happened more than 14,000 times. Just think about the wasted money -- spent solely to support the far right's anti-gay agenda. They ought to be assessed for the financial damages they caused.

[fiscaltiger]

02:38 PM on 12/26/2010

It is time the american people start asking very specific question of candidates. If they evade or lie and later vote for legislation that is clearly not in the interest of the nation then they should be removed.

[Alexodia]

02:51 PM on 12/26/2010

Oh like McCain. He should be the first to go. Frank should be the last.

[fiscaltiger]

03:54 PM on 12/26/2010

You should note I am not republican: just a member of the silent majority. I did not reference party affiliation because my statements apply to all legislators. Barney should not be re-elected.

[terry63]

05:06 PM on 12/26/2010

Although McCain is a flip flopping wreck of a politician, He hasnt brought down an entire economy, Barney Frank and Chris Dodd have yet to be questioned by Congrees for their role in Fanny May and Freddie mack Quite the Opposite they actually have Bigger better jobs.Forgive me if I dont put a Heck of alot of faith in Barney Frank.

[fiscaltiger]

02:02 PM on 12/26/2010

Responsible interests groups behave as follows: A public statement by the gay community, I will not accept that gay marriage or DADT is of sufficient importance to warrent the election of Mr. George Bush in 2004. We as an interest group will continue to educate the public about the gay agenda but will not place that interest in front of the good of the nation.

In 2004 election george bush won the state of ohio by 100000+ votes which simultaneously had a state proposition against gay marriage. Would the nation have gained without a second term of george? yes

[WheelsOnFire]

09:21 AM on 12/27/2010

According to estimates prepared by the Williams Institute at UCLA, allowing gay marriage could result in hundreds of millions of revenue to this country.

Seems like, for beneficial financial reasons alone (at this time when this country needs everything and anything that is financially beneficial) that gay marriage should be made legal.

[patsijean]

12:25 PM on 12/26/2010

Go, Barney!

[mark oconnor]

11:50 AM on 12/26/2010

Finally someone speaking some common sense on these issues.

To all the gay and lesbian people who have been dry cleaning themselves all these years and are tired of the fumes....you are free to stop now.

[hackerblaster]

11:45 AM on 12/26/2010

And those radical transgender people! How dare they want to be treated normal like normal folks.

[ianmcc]

11:54 AM on 12/26/2010

While I admit I do not understand how being gay and being transgendered got lumped together in LGBT rights as being gay and being transgendered are two completely different things, I am regularly disappointed as to how the championing of equal rights for the transgendered so often goes by the wayside.

[fiscaltiger]

01:53 PM on 12/26/2010

Are you suggesting the entire nation should suffer 1 trillion dollars in additional debt for the sake of DADT and the dream act. Radical is when any group is willing to sacrifice this nation for their agenda.

[frameofmind2]

09:28 AM on 12/27/2010

Link please?

[talkstocoyotes]

12:42 PM on 12/30/2010

"Radical is when any group is willing to sacrifice this nation for their agenda. "

Always glad to hear that someone's seen the light about the Republicans and the theocrat lobby.

[WheelsOnFire]

11:20 AM on 12/26/2010

The "radical" homosexual agenda can be summed up in one word.

Equality.

Why does that scare some people?

[fiscaltiger]

01:56 PM on 12/26/2010

should the old be made to work until 70 and receive a reduction in their retirement income for the sake of DADT and the dream act. There are real consequences to placing the agenda of an interest group above the nations best interests.

[WheelsOnFire]

04:49 PM on 12/26/2010

I do not see the connections you are trying to make.

The dots you are trying to connect aren't even in the same book, let alone on the same page.

And ending discrimination is in our nation's best interests. To allow it stand means that we don't care about our Constitution nor our founding principles.

And when did Congress pass a law to reduce retirement income or extend the working age to 70? Fact is, it did not. No such proposed law was before Congress this year.

So, your efforts to tie your points together are futile and irrelevant.

[frameofmind2]

09:23 AM on 12/27/2010

WheelsOnFire 22 hours ago (11:20 AM)
5 Fans
Unfan
The "radical" homosexual agenda can be summed up in one word.

Equality.

Why does that scare some people?
====================

It doesn't scare people that want equal rights for all our brothers and sisters.

[Ioan Lightoller]

03:02 PM on 12/28/2010

I love how people who hate us alway have something to blame us for. If not the downfall of western society as a whole, there is always the tax deal to lay at our door. It is so sad that people have to fight for simple equality to everyone else in this country.