Barney Frank Bails on the Transgender Community

Dear Congressman Frank:

I am your constituent. I vote for you. I have voted for you since I moved to Newton in 1985. That's a lot of elections. I cannot believe you are supporting a gutted version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), removing transgender from the language of the Act.

I could not really believe it until I read your post on www.bilerico.com.

And there it was, clear as day, you thought it was the right thing to do. Good strategy. Politically a savvy move.

As a lesbian who does not fit the traditional feminine image, much to my oldest son's ire, I can say you are cutting out the one group of people most in need of the protection. I don't have to explain to you that most of the Fortune 500 has sexual orientation as part of their own employment policies. They do not have gender expression or transgender.

Of course, you can be assured a victory in the House of Representatives if you remove the transgender folks from the bill. There is not, of course, a chance in hell it'll get through the Senate to the President's desk, even with the trannies removed, but you'll have a victory.

A hollow one. One with no soul. No pride.

You know what I find interesting, Congressman Frank? Even through the whole Steven Gobie nonsense, I stood by you. I would argue your strengths. I would take on anyone who said anything negative about you, or told snickering jokes. Why? Because you were a gay man, and I was a lesbian, and there is something to be said about sticking with your family.

I consider transgender people part of the same family. Removing them from the bill is like telling me I can bring two of my children along, but not the third.

You see, on the eve of this historic vote, because it will be remembered in history, I look at my three children and can honestly say one might be struggling with gender identity issues. Not sure. Can't be positive, but maybe. How will I look him in the eye when he's old enough to understand transgender rights were not considered important enough to take a stand on, that it was simply politically more expedient to pass a bill for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people?

They look so much nicer in photo ops? Is that what I'm suppose to say? People get too uncomfortable with his "kind?" What kind of message is that? Because I know you know that people who go through the pain and struggle to change their gender are not folks that will show up to work on Friday as Joe and walk in on Monday as Joanne.

You know better.

In all the years I have voted for you, I never once questioned my allegiance. I do now. You're selling out one of my sons in order to achieve a technical victory. Maybe you've been in office too long. Maybe you're too jaded to remember how people stood by you when it wasn't necessarily a popular thing to do.

Please, Congressman Frank, do not push forward ENDA without full inclusion. The acronym is LGBT rights. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender rights. If we start picking and choosing amongst ourselves, we are no better than the people who would fire us for being different.

LGB is not enough. I'm not going to leave anyone behind. If you continue to push the proposed substitute bill, you are making a choice to leave one of my kids behind.

Shame on you.

Comments

[ajhmd]

The GLBT community obviously doesn't want to accept the fact that getting legislation passed means compromise. Rep. Frank has worked tirelessly for decades now, and suddenly groups like HRC are going to crucify him for his position. HRC, for example, has a $29 million budget and while it has been extremely effective in the private sector, its record in Congress is dismal. The hoopla celebrating the recent Hate Crimes legislation was ridiculous because it's not going to become law either. I plan to resign from HRC Federal Club and am going to encourage my friends to do the same. For our community to not listen to our highest elected member of Congress is the height of arrogance, stupidity, and myopia.

[Susanholmes]

Two things:

First of all, I look just fine in photographs.

Also, the transgendered community has Never been able to rely on solidarity from the L/G community. We learned that lesson in No Uncertain Terms after Stonewall, when we were written out of the history (HIStory indeed!) and removed from the L/G agenda.

Don't even get me started about B. I'm old enough to remember the anti-bisexual oaths that used to get passed around at pride marches.

The damage between our communities has been Done, and it was Done long ago. This is just a bit more salt in the wound.

[TeddySanFran]

Sara, thanks for posting your letter to your Congressman. We need to keep up the pressure to include our entire community in this legislation. Leaving some behind leaves everyone behind. How can I celebrate the passage of a LBG ENDA if my T friends are excluded?

Plus, Shrub's gonna veto it anyway, so is the rush just to get to the keynote speaker's podium at the HRCamp gala this weekend, Madame Speaker?

[txwhtboy]

I cannot believe that everyone is crying foul and whining about the unfairness of life. Have you never heard of the game called politics? This is the first time since, I dunno, EVER, that we have the chance to pass positive legislation on a national level and you would rather let the GLB not take the field because T didn't make the cut. Wakeup, nobody said life was fair, or that you deserve anything!
Also, lay off Barney Frank, He's been fighting for everyone for twenty years everyday. What have all of you done, other than pay your $35 membership fee to HRC and put your little equal sign sticker on your car?
God! Grow Up!

[SaraWhitman]

Let's see... 15 years of personal and philanthropic funding that not once covered a little sticker for my car- Hmmm. probably because I am NOT a member of HRC. In total, with my role as board member at Schott Foundation for Public Education and Halcyon Hill Foundation? I've directed over 20 million dollars in grants.

no sticker, though. damn.

this bill does not stand a snowball's chance in hell of passing. if you knew ALL the politics behind this, you would know that.

I think I have every right to question Barney about this. I am in his district. he is there to represent me.

That, too, is politics.

[txwhtboy]

Former Field Coordinator for the No on Prop. 22 campaign in California 2000(who's area was the most rednecked in the state and just barely escaped having my skull cracked open one night in a parking lot in Hemet, CA.)
Consultant for the Nononsense in November, Anti Gay Marriage Amendment Texas (oh yea, ever been spit on and told if you didn't get off someone's property they will shoot you?)
Legislative Assistant to two Texas Legislators
Is that enough of a pedigree? I do think that it does give me enough insight, I may not know ALL the politics but who said you do?
Sorry, I guess I missed all those wine and cheese parties but we in the trenches thank you for your donation.
You are correct that you have to right to question Rep. Frank's position because you live in his district. You also live in state that affords full rights and privileges. Move to Texas and live for two years with your kids and partner and guess how many rights you have here?
At least I am willing to take a slice, instead of starving because I believe I deserve the whole pie.
"It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important". MLK Jr.

[DavidHealy]

The Republican majority is not ready now, or soon, to prohibit workplace discrimination against gays and lesbians; however many Democrats and some Republicans are ready. It will be a historic event and should be celebrated.

Politics is the art of the possible, not a wet dream for the ideologically pure.

Frank is right and the extremists insisting on including the transgendered now are very, very wrong.

[SaraWhitman]

Extremist?

I’m a suburban mother of three kids. I spend my day carting my kids around from activity to activity. I coach my second grader’s soccer team. I attend elementary school concerts, which I believe, deserves a metal of honor.

I do, however, believe Miracle Whip is better than Hellmann’s. Hands down. I know, that’s pretty extreme.

C’mon, David. It’s not a wet dream to believe a bill that WILL NOT BE SIGNED ANYWAY should include everyone.

And I’m not an extremist. Well, except for the Miracle Whip. I won’t back down about that.

[Susanholmes]

"Frank is right and the extremists insisting on including the transgendered now are very, very wrong."

Yep, there's that same old language again. You people are "Extremists!" You don't belong with us! Outcast unclean!

[CarmanK]

I support Barney Frank's position. There has been an effort in Congress to pass a bill against gender discrimination for 30 years. It does not seem unreasonable to wait another two years, when we can get a new president and congress who will begin to heal the great divide created by the Bush neocon economic policies. The Repugs cannot be given a platform to rally their base in the 2008 election. Most people know what is right. They just need a real leader to remind them. As my kindergarteners will tell you "whether red, yellow, brown, black or white -all people are precious..­..and are entitled to their rights.

[Frosty Grin]

"I consider transgender people part of the same family."

Well, apparently, not everybody does. Some gays, lesbians and bisexuals don't think they are members of "GLBT community", and accusing them of trans-phobia is quite stupid (and pointless).
And, of course, not everyone thinks that a muscled man wearing a pink dress and high-heel shoes will be, for example, a good teacher. I know it's a ridiculous example, but it certainly can be considered "gender expression".

[Susanholmes]

"And, of course, not everyone thinks that a muscled man wearing a pink dress and high-heel shoes will be, for example, a good teacher. I know it's a ridiculous example, but it certainly can be considered "gender expression". "

Your "ridiculous example" is also transphobic. Educate yourself.

[LittleBrother]

Shorter version of Frank's position: A Congressman never stands so tall as when he stoops to kick a transgendered person.

[realitytrumpsbull]

I still think we've got too many hyphenated­-americans­. I'd like to see politicians put together a platform that has common appeal,
things that would tend to benefit ALL citizens
without providing special dispensation to little niche groups, things like a publicly
accountable balanced federal budget, secure
borders, a vastly improved national energy policy NOT written by some thinktank financed
by an oil company, you know, kind of a 'cut the crap' campaign. Meanwhile, 9 trillion in the red, headed for 10...dolla­r fallllllll­iiiiinnnng­gggg.....

[Susanholmes]

"...withou­t providing special dispensation to little niche groups..."

If we didn't have special problems we wouldn't need special legislation. When's the last time you heard of a straight, white male getting killed by a stranger outside of a bar because he was a straight, white male?

[snaggster]

Sara,

I couldn't agree more, but what are you gonna do about it? Will you continue to vote for Frank & the Dems? I know I'm through with them. What good are they if they just maintain the republican majority? I'm tired of "victories" that mean nothing, non-binding resolutions, condemnation of newspaper ads, and most of all, the occupation of Iraq. They have shown themselves to be no match for the GOP in tactics or results.

[research]

About half of the Dems are DINO's. Make a list, vote against them.

[tombollocks]

I agree. I am officially retired as a voter. To hell with them all.

[SaraWhitman]

Tom, if you give up voting then you might as well say you’ve given George Bush a big, wet kiss on the lips of approval. The ONLY way we will be heard in this country is if we vote.

And vote often.

(Kidding)