Too Little, Too Late: Barney "Aunt Nancy" Frank Introduces Trans-inclusive ENDA

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Congressman Barney "Aunt Nancy" Frank

In a pointless effort that amounts to political equivalent of pissing into the wind, Congressman Barney Frank, who, with the rest of his party, allowed the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) to die in congress last year, has decided to take a lesson from the republican playbook by using LGBT rights as a wedge issue.

Barney & Company reintroduced ENDA this morning knowing full well that it has a snowball's chance in Hell of passing in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives..

HRC Back Story has released a statement that says in part:

Members of the U.S. House of Representatives held a press conference today to announce they will be introducing an inclusive Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would create federal protections against workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.  The bill is a critical piece of an economic empowerment agenda for the LGBT community, as detailed in a recent memo by HRC.

As Americans struggle to recover from one of the worst economic recessions in our nation’s history, it’s important to remember that the risk of losing a job can be far greater for LGBT people.  HRC has worked with members on both sides of the aisle to introduce The Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would address discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on the person’s sexual orientation or gender identity.  Currently such protections exist in only 21 states and DC for sexual orientation and 12 states and DC for gender identity.

Naturally, HRC makes no mention of its own promises or the lack of action last year on ENDA. Instead they praise this colossal waste of time, energy and money. Playing the victim card once again, Gay Inc. and House Democrats are are calling on Republicans to follow through on their campaign promises last year, by focusing on job creation, not social issues.

Politicians that ignore their campaign promises? I'm shocked. SHOCKED!

Actually, what I'm feeling is deja vu. Didn't we go through this in the last congressional session? We're grateful for DADT repeal and hate crimes legislation, but didn't Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, President Obama and HRC promise ENDA passage and DOMA repeal last year, when the Dems actually had the majority to get things done?

This is just another ploy to use the LGBT community ~ and the failure to get any pro-LGBT legislation passed ~ to make the Republicans look bad. This year, the Dems can blame their ineptitude on the Republitards instead of manning up and accepting responsibility for their own shortcomings.

News Flash: The Republicans don't need anybody's help to make them look bad! We know they don't like us. Despite whatever gains have been made, the GOP is still being run by old school bigots and Teabaggers who are all too happy to stick by their outdated, homophobic platform.

Don't fall for this PR stunt. Barney Frank is to the gay community what Uncle Tom is to African Americans. I guess that would make him an "Aunt Nancy". That's how I'll be referring to him from now on.

Related articles

• Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., reintroduces ENDA, the Employment Nondiscrimination Act (miamiherald.typepad.com)
• And They Wonder Why... (bilerico.com)
• 3 Ways to Improve ENDA Advocacy: Religious Exemptions (bilerico.com)