Oct 9, 2009 1
Congressman Frank Doesn’t Think We Should March
Congressman Barney Frank recently appeared on Michelangelo Signorile’s SiriusXM show and stated the the National Equality March is ineffective and that citizens should lobby politicians locally. From The Gist:
Barney Frank believes the march this weekend and rally on the mall are “useless” and don’t put pressure on the White House. “I literally don’t understand how this will do anything,” he said. “People are kidding themselves. I don’t want people patting themselves on the back for doing something that is useless.” Besides, he says, “Barack Obama does not need pressure.” He says we should model ourselves as lobbyists on “the National Rifle Association.” He says people should not come to Washington and should stay home and lobby their members of Congress. “Nobody in Congress even knows they’re there, he says, and he is not attending the March: He is going to California to raise money for himself and other Democrats.
Don’t tell me know nobody knows we’re here.
When this endeavor first began, several major gay rights groups didn’t want anything to do with it. But now, those groups are clamoring over themselves to get a piece of the action. Even the HRC will host a major dinner tomorrow night featuring celebrities and the President himself.
I know the march isn’t going to produce any miracle legislation. But the visibility we will gain across the nation is worth it and useful because many gay Americans will see us marching in solidarity and hear our voices letting them know that they aren’t alone and that they shouldn’t have to live in fear. And some of them may even be moved to take action and lobby their local politicians.
