Barney Frank: DOMA Brief and DNC Fundraiser Boycott a "Mistake", Will Introduce ENDA Next Week

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), who has not spoken to the press in the five days since the release of that inflammatory Justice Department motion to dismiss a challenge to the Defense of Marriage Act, finally speaks. Frank tells the Boston Herald the brief was a "mistake"—the same word he used to describe a proposed boycott of a gay Democratic fundraiser.

"I think the administration made a big mistake. The wording they used was inappropriate. ... I’ve been in touch with the White House and I’m hoping the president will make clear these were not his views."

Despite the massive outcry in the LGBT community, Frank will still attend the Democratic National Committee's LGBT Leadership Council scheduled for next week: "There are a lot of people who aren’t boycotting. I think it’s a mistake to deny money to the DNC."

In related news, Frank's spokesman Diego Sanchez announces the congressman will introduce a fully-inclusive version of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act in the House of Representatives next week, according to the Washington Blade:

"Diego Sanchez, who is transgender and a senior policy adviser to Frank, said the bill will be inclusive of sexual orientation and gender identity. He noted it will include the legislative language Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) used in 2007 in an attempt to restore gender identity provisions to an earlier version of the bill. Sanchez said the new bill will debut with at least eight sponsors, including four Democrats and four Republicans. Among the sponsors are openly gay House members Frank, Baldwin and Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.). The lead Republican sponsor is Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida."

Comments

[Danny Rivera]

Thanks for emerging from your safe undisclosed location, Barney! But we're not an ATM and know we have been had!

But thanks for the ENDA news, that is promising. Let's see if the White House lets that move forward. I'm guessing they won't but we'll see ...

[Danny Rivera]

Oh and where are all the people who claim they are so interested in ENDA and job discrimination. It's been almost three hours and not one comment. Hmmmm.

[Talarico]

To those of you said the gay activists and bloggers were whining or screaming, IN YOUR FACE! This is what happens when you apply a little pressure. It goes a long way!

Frank said last month that he wouldn't introduce ENDA until next years and after hate crimes passed. Now he is pushing up ENDA. Wonder why ...

Good deal, guys

[Kevin]

Chitown Kev here

Yes, Danny, we need to keep the pressure up. Only Congressional passage and Presidential signature will suffice.

And Obama or Holder (preferably Obama, at this point) need to apologize for that filthy brief and withdraw it.

Oh, and Barney Frank, please. At least Polis addressed some specifics and voiced his outrage in his statement.

[Baltimore Femme]

It's a start. I'm all loving LOVING the fact that all this gay outrage made these jellyfish politicians' knees wobble.

[Giles]

It didn't take Barney any time for him to whip this up and introduce important legislation once his precious fundraiser was threatened.

[Otis]

You threaten to cut off the purse strings and all of a sudden the Democrats start to sit up and pay attention. I hope the protest continues of the fundraiser and other events until something meaningful is actually SIGNED.

[ReggieH]

I can understand Barney's stand on the fundraiser boycott -- he's a politician and money is their life blood. I still say, the current sudden move to action proves that we need to keep the pressure up -- and especially hold onto our wallets!