Rep. Frank Opposes Gay Marriage Effort

[Khephra]

SAN FRANCISCO -- Rep. Barney Frank said San Francisco's decision to challenge state law and grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples could damage efforts by gay rights advocates to defend the Massachusetts court decision legalizing gay marriage.

"I was sorry to see the San Francisco thing go forward," said Frank, an openly gay congressman from Massachusetts who shared his concerns with fellow Democrat and San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom before the city began marrying gay couples last week.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Frank expressed concern that the image of lawlessness and civil disobedience in San Francisco would lead some in Congress to support a federal constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

Frank said he had hoped Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court decision upholding the right of same-sex couples to marry would serve as a national model for orderly, legal protection of gay marriage.

more............

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-gay-marriage-frank,0,754665.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[FlashHarry]

1. Dupe

[displacedtexan]

2. If a church wants to marry a couple...

that's fine. That means that Unitarian churches should be able to 'marry' couples, instead of being forced to issue 'civil union' certificates.

If marriage is sacred, why do court houses continue to issue 'sacred' marriage certificates?

This whole thing just plain bites, IMHO. People are people. period.

Let's start a grassroots effort to force American men to go back to their first wives... until death do they part.

[trapper914]

3. Barney's right

California's law may well be unconstitutional...a matter for the California court system...not Gavin Newsom. (edited to correct typo)

[Brucey]

4. Repugs and conservatives have no rational arguments.

They don't like gays, so they don't want them to get married? Should we stop everyone we don't like from getting married? What about criminals? If someone commits a crime, should they be barred from marrying? The Bible says you should not steal. Should we stop people who steal from getting married? The "can't reproduce" argument is just as silly to anyone with half a brain cell. What the hell have they got for an argument in this debate?

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Brucey]

6. Yes. I guess I was not clear.

Barney Frank wants gay marriage in the long run and is afraid that what is going on in SF will get in the way of that. What I was saying is that the arguments against gay marriage that are offered by repugs and conservatives are illogical. Of course, some people who are not repugs or conservatives may also make those arguments. They are still illogical. I hope I am being more clear.

[JI7]

7. Barney Frank sees the reality

he has talked about this before. he wants something that would get results and advance the cause.

[tobius]

8. I agree with Frank, the current meme

that the repugs will make this a wedge issue may be true, but they didn't cause the Mass Supremes to rule and demand an answer this year or twist Gavin's arm until he flouted CA law. Jesse Jackson and Corretta Scott King's statements on gay marriage were not part of the vast RW conspiracy, nor were Kerry's typical soft shoe to signal agreement to all sides of the issue.


"You know the one thing that's wrong with this country? Everyone gets a chance to have their fair say."
President William Clinton addressing the people of Philadelphia, May 28, 1993 in the Courtyard, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA.

[Dr Fate]

9. "Lawlessness & civil disobedience?" This aint Selma...

...he makes it sound like people are rioting or somthing...

[JI7]

10. "civil" disobedience

he says "civil" because it's not rioting or anything violent. that's a peaceful approach to going against the law or protest.

[Dr Fate]

12. Its as civil as it gets-the "Lawless" part has not been decided...

yeah- I've read Henry David Thoreau- I know what CD means.

He's portraying this in a negative way- and it has not been decided that this is against the law yet...

Who knows? he may have a valid point- just an observation on his use of language...

[JI7]

13. yeah, but i just know

that barney frank knows very well how the right wing uses this issue to divide people. and he is worried they may succeed and in the end there will be no rights.

[Fight_n_back]

11. What the hell does he know?

I would certainly defer to Frank, in general, but Stonewall was not civil, yet it did its job.

[booisblu]

14. In a way

I agree with Barney. This issue, which directly affects me and my partner, should have followed a more stealth approach through the courts. Now it appears as if all hell has broken loose upon the GLBT community. We did not and do not need this demonization, especially in an election year. I also find the timing of the Massachusettes court ruling a bit odd. This fight has been going on in virtually every state for years, but it now has become front page news and every fundie is frothing at the mouth over this. It's no longer just about the right to marry for us, but also the separation between church and state. It is about our very right to survive in an increasingly hostile political climate. The San Fran mayor was trying to help the cause of justice and civil rights, however; I do believe it will backfire, and all those couples will be faced with huge disappointment yet again. Now the push is on in every freaking state to deny us of the same rights as the het's. Every day I get blasted with these ridiculous polls about wether or not to support or deny rights to us. Constant tv shows showcasing the evil, arrogant fundie bastards spitting out bible quotes to tell me I'm sub-human. This all was unnecessary, and I believe that is what Mr. Franks is trying to say. The repubs did take this, and they threw it up there to distract from every other issue of this election. I do not think the swing voters are going to vote for the *hole because of this, I think they will vote against persecution of other American citizens. At least I can dream, can't I?

[mondo joe]

15. I'm okay with his opposition - but glad they're doing it

THis is a struggle that must be engaged on many fronts.

Not everyone is comfortable with every route, and there is room for many approaches.

I'm sure that while Rosa Parks refused to sit in the back of the bus there were people saying she should work WITH the system.

And that's okay too.

[Moderator]

16. Kick

:dem:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

17. Thanks... hadn't seen this.