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   Please tell me I’m in the middle of a nightmare! After months of waiting for President Obama to act on his campaign promises to work for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, Rep. Barney Frank, the longest serving LGBT member of Congress, has told the Washington Blade he will NOT co-sponsor legislation being introduced next week to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). He cites “strategic differences” with the bill’s supporters, which include the man who represents the most gay Congressional district in the country, Jerry Nadler. It is Nadler who plans to introduce the bill Tuesday. LGBT Reps Baldwin and Polis will co-sponsor. Frank apparently feels that ENDA, DADT, and federal benefits for same-sex couples is more than he and Congress can stomach. Never mind the fact that Congress is only now getting around to starting hearings on the Employment Non Discrimination Act. Apparently Frank can restructure the entire American economy in a matter of weeks, but give him two years with an overwhelming Democratic majority in both the House and Senate, as well as a supportive President, and he cowers with political impotence. 9/15/09 Update: As expected, this morning, Congressman Nadler, flanked by Baldwin, Polis other members of Congress, as well as representatives of several LGBT organizations, introduced the “Respect for Marriage Act”. The bill will have 91 original co-sponsors. Congressman Frank is not one of them. (For news coverage of the press conference see, for example, http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27207 ). http://www.washblade.com/thelatest/thelatest.cfm?blog_id=27153
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