Openly Gay Rep. Barney Frank Says National Equality March is "Useless"; O'Reilly Makes Big Deal of Obama Picket

Rep. Barney Frank: March is "Useless"

On the Michelangelo Signorile radio show The Gist, Rep. Barney Frank discussed the National Equality March, calling it "useless."

Signorile's site reports: "I literally don't understand how this will do anything," [Frank] 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.

If Frank would take a second and actually read what the march is about and what its agenda entails, he would realize that the people attending aren't just there to make a scene. They're there to be trained on how to lobby their representatives at home and to organize themselves in all 435 congressional districts. A big goal, yes, but it can be accomplished.

I have a lot of respect for Frank, but these comments just show how little time he's taken to read up on what his own community is up to. In the very least, he shouldn't discourage people to take a stand for themselves.

He's missed the mark here. Usually I don't agree with people who say Frank should shut up more often, but in this case, I would have to concur.


Key March Information

David Mixner has provided a great service by gathering key information about attending the march, saying "Quite honestly I don't have a damn idea on how many will attend but do know that it appears to be a weekend filled with substantive events for almost any person's desire. Just go to the events link and get the full picture."

Buses

Events

March Route

Rally and Speakers

Washington's Metro (Subway)


Bill O'Reilly Questions Why Gays Are Protesting Gays on Eve of March

Bill O'Reilly discusses with activist writer Wayne Besen the planned picketing by LGBT groups and activists outside of Saturday's HRC dinner where President Obama will be giving a speech.



Read Wayne Besen's take on Obama's attendance to the HRC dinner.