Rep. Barney Frank made good use of his five minutes of floor time yesterday in debating the Matthew Shepard Act. It’s no Rep. Rush Holt delivery, but Frank succeeds in eloquence. We’ll boil his argument down for you: The real uneasiness over a queer hate crimes bill isn’t that it helps punish criminals for targeting a certain demographic, but that it punishes criminals who attack “people like me” — the GLBTs.
Frankly Speaking
WATCH: Barney Frank Opens Hate Crimes Opposition Lid, Slams It Shut
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bigjake75
This was fantastic. and when he let the bigots know that we do not need or want their approval of how we live…awesome. But we do, and everyone does, deserve the right to be protected, and have any attackers punished.
I rarely have kind words for Mr. Frank. However, this may be one of his finest moments, and this video should be spread around the whole nation.
Dennis
Barney Frank is a gay hero…He doesn’t take shit from anyone. Don’t mess with Barney, he’ll wipe up the floor with you, love it!
ask ena
YAY!
Aaron Akins
It’s odd how difficult it can be to put certain concepts into words. I have rarely heard anyone express the rational behind the Matthew Sheppard act so clearly. Thank you, Congressman Frank.
Bertie
Hero.
NewYorkness
Nice job Barns!
TANK
As usual, he puts the opposition right in their place. I’m surprised that there aren’t a host of comments condemning him and making a bunch of false accusations about corruption and whatnot…as that the usual scenario on these gay blogs that feature him. I guess the gay republicans aren’t ghouling around right now.
He’s one of the most effective advocates we have, like it or not.
Jake
nice!
paulied
To see how your representative voted, please see:
http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll223.xml
BRB
Age and race are not something people choose, homosexual behavior is something it practitioners learn, then repeatedly choose to engage in.
THAT is precisely why homosexual follow the scripted propaganda schemes created by Madsens and Kirk in their paper titled; “Overhauling Straight America” where they said homosexuals need to claim that they were born that way, and Madsen and Kirk even admitted their motivation behind that tidbit of lies: “…nd are thus nor morally blameworthy”.!
Shall we start charging bigoted homosexuals with hate crimes who attack the civil rights of Christians or parents, such as when homosexuals attack the civil rights of parents and try to take away parental rights?
Of course, homosexual bullies are against being held accountable for their bigoted hate.
walt zipprian
Religion is something people choose. Should we remove the religion protections from the hate crimes law and just make it for race and age?
rogue dandelion
I am so proud of Barney for this! thank you so much! you are an inspiration!
timncguy
@BRB: I noticed you failed to mention the fact that the CURRENT hates crimes legislation protects religion. And, religion is absolutely a CHOICE.
And, the expanded hate crimes legislation will protect heterosexual as well as homosexuals. Just like you asked. The legislation adds “sexual orientation”, not homosexual. So, both gays and straights will be protected if they are PHYSICALLY attacked by someone based on their sexual orientation.
dfrw
I live in his district and dropped him a note of thanks.
jbw
The man is a pillar and an icon, not only for the gay community. He is unquestionably the most decisive, effective, brilliant members of our government — one of the rare exceptions in which a person who actually understands, deserves, and exemplifies those he represents in our democracy.
He understands that every man is an extension of yourself.
Clear the way, Barney. We will follow.