Homosexual Activists Already Planning “Gay Agenda” for Democrat-Controlled House

The following are highlights from the article entitled Democratic House a gay boon? published Oct 20, 2006, in the homosexual newspaper Washington Blade:

• “Gay political activists and Democratic leaders are already planning post-election strategies and priorities for an expectedly bluer and more progressive House of Representatives…The preliminary plans … put a [transsexual]-inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act [ENDA] atop the wish list of gay rights supporters,” the Blade reports.
• “I think that everyone believes that [a transsexual-] inclusive ENDA is our top priority,” said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force.
• Other top priorities for homosexual activists: passing a “hate crimes” bill that is homosexual- and “transgender”-inclusive, and repealing the ban on open homosexuality in the military.
• “We’re accused of having a gay agenda … but this is the time when we really need one,” says radical homosexual activist Wayne Besen.
• A Democratic House is key to advancing gay priorities, John Marble, spokesperson for the [homosexual group] National Stonewall Democrats, told the Blade. “If the Republicans are in control, it’s going to take much more work.”
• Homosexual U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) says that a Democratic House “would snub ‘anti-gay initiatives’ like the Marriage Protection Amendment, and give lawmakers new ability to concentrate on passing ENDA and overturning “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” the Blade reports.
• “Those are probably the two [ENDA and ‘Hate Crimes’] that we would be thinking about,” Frank told the Blade. “There would be a very good chance of movement there.”
• “If the Democrats retake the House, Frank could emerge as chair of the powerful and prestigious Financial Services Committee, which has jurisdiction over leading financial institutions, including banks,” the Blade reports.
• Besen warns about potential disillusionment among homosexuals if they are “played and used” by the newly dominant Democrats.
• Homosexual political analyst Hastings Wyman said the Democrats cannot afford to alienate their homosexual base: “The political heft of the gay community has been of great value to the Democrats,” he said, “in terms of money and in votes and in muscle.”