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 Barney Franks most recent comments on ENDA are concerning. As a long time openly gay member of the House, it seems his he has lost touch with what is happening in the movement. To exclude gender identity expression to pass ENDA is not a concession the community is willing to make. What kind of statement is Barney Frank making to glbtq youth with rhetoric that undermines and devalues lives with flippant comments such as, “They can’t sit there with a full beard and a dress”. As an ally to the transgendered community, I will not sit by and watch pieces of protection for full equality be chipped away piece by piece. The comments on ENDA can affect much further then the transgendered community alone. If Barney Frank wants to make a binary gender identity requirement for passing ENDA it will affect anyone and everyone. What will be next, someone telling me I am fired because I am wearing a baseball hat and not keeping with my gender norms according to them? How about a male wearing a pink shirt? A girl with short hair? A boy with long hair? A girl wearing a tie? Or someone wearing a kilt as expression of heritage? Will the new “guidebook” for all employers to follow be under the latest Vogue magazine to help identify what is acceptable for male and females to look like for gender normalcy that season? Self expression is not something to be debated in congress. What I wear, who I love has nothing to do with my ability and skill set to perform a job to the highest degree. I have advocated and fought for an inclusive ENDA and I believe in equal protections for all. This is a jobs issue as is Don’t Ask Don’t Tell. Everyday lives are on the line due to lack of protections in employment. People are struggling, families are struggling those that put their life on the line daily that fight for our country are struggling all losing jobs. If Barney Frank and those in congress really want to push a jobs bill then pass ENDA and End DADT now. Help put America back to work not only for a select few but for everyone by the end of the month. For the full story link below at Pam’s House Blend. http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/16086/rep-barney-frank-says-enda-will-win-in-the-house
 Tuesday is the Human Rights Campaign Day of Action for Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Repeal. I urge you to sign Howard Dean’s letter below, and also write, call, and Fax President Obama and Members of Congress asking them to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell this year, before the mid-term elections. Please take action and forward this message on to everyone. -Tommy News Contact information: Call The Capitol Hill Switchboard at 202-224-3121 Toll Free 1-800-517-5696 Ask for your Congressman and your two Senators. Call The White House 202-456-1111 and email President Obama using the contact form at www.whitehouse.gov Send postal mail to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. From: “Gov. Howard Dean, Democracy for America” Dear Mr. President We would like to share this open letter to President Obama from Gov. Howard Dean, calling on the President to follow through on his promise to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” this year. Will you add your name in support of Gov. Dean’s letter to President Obama? Just click here to join Gov. Dean, the Courage Campaign and Democracy for America. DEADLINE: Tuesday, 5 p.m.: http://dfa2.convio.net/site/R?i=8Zd7OG3p1Rh_Iu6eakuiDg.. Arshad Hasan, Executive Director Dear Mr. President, When you delivered your State of the Union address in January, you eloquently spoke the following words to Congress and the nation: “We find unity in our incredible diversity, drawing on the promise enshrined in our Constitution: the notion that we are all created equal, that no matter who you are or what you look like, if you abide by the law you should be protected by it…” “This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are. It’s the right thing to do.” However, as you know, Secretary Gates sent a letter to House Armed Services Chair Ike Skelton on April 30 which appears to indefinitely delay the possibility of moving forward with the repeal of DADT until the Pentagon completes a review of the policy. In his response, Aubrey Sarvis, Executive Director of the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, said: “As a result of the Commander in Chief’s decision to defer to Secretary Gates’ wishes and timeline, gay service members will continue to be treated as second class citizens, and any sense of fairness may well have been delayed for yet another year, perhaps for another decade.” While I understand the need to research how repealing DADT will affect members of the military, the law can still be repealed with an implementation timeline this year. The time to end “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is now. I urge you to take immediate action to insure that Congress includes the repeal of DADT — with an implementation timeline — in the Defense Authorization bill currently under consideration. I am sharing this open letter with my friends in Democracy for America and the Courage Campaign communities, thousands of whom will join me in signing a petition asking you to take leadership to repeal DADT this year. You can read the petition — and Americans can sign on to it — here: www.DemocracyforAmerica.com/DontWaitDontDelay One of our nation’s most precious and fundamental values is the guarantee of equal rights for every American. Gay and lesbian Americans have demonstrated their courage and given their lives in service to our country since our nation’s military was founded. Now it’s time to allow them to say who they are. On behalf of Courage Campaign and Democracy for America members, thank you for your consideration of this critical national security issue. - Howard Gov. Howard Dean, MD P.S. On Tuesday, May 11, more than 300 military veterans will gather in Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress to repeal DADT this year. If you haven’t heard about this event, being organized by Servicemembers United and the Human Rights Campaign in partnership with a broad coalition of organizations including the Courage Campaign, please click the link below: http://dfa2.convio.net/site/R?i=ISJFRJb5L2O4y3sKM4D2xQ.. www.congress.org
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