Barney Frank Headlines OC Democratic Party Dinner

By Denise Penn
denise@gayblade.com

The Democratic Party of Orange County has announced that Rep. Barney Frank will be the keynote speaker at their upcoming awards banquet. Barney Frank represents the Fourth Congressional District of Massachusetts. He is also Chairman of the Financial Services Committee, which recently passed in the House what the Washington Post has called “the most sweeping overhaul of the nation’s financial regulatory system since the Great Depression.”
Frank began his career in the Massachusetts State House, where he served for eight years before winning a seat in the U.S. Congress in 1980. In 1982, he won his first full term, and he has been re-elected ever since by wide margins; he is the longest serving House member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation. In 1987, he became the second openly member of the House of Representatives (Gerry Studds was the first).
Barney Frank recently stood on the floor and called for the end of the “Don’t Ask /Don’t Tell” policy that has forced LGBT men and women to serve in the military in silence and in fear:
“I congratulate Speaker Pelosi and others in the leadership for successfully insisting that this House get a chance to vote on repealing the rule that says that patriotic able-bodied gay and lesbian Americans cannot serve their country,” said Frank.
“Mr. Speaker, it strikes me as odd, if there was a situation in which we were at war, as we now are, we’re at war in two situations, sadly because no one likes war. If I had proposed that gay and lesbian Americans be exempted from any draft and from any requirement to serve and put their lives in danger, I would have been accused of a special rights and it would have been a correct accusation. Instead, gay and lesbian people are asking for the right to serve, and we’re told that will undo military cohesion. “
The Harry S. Truman Awards Banquet honoring those who have contributed to the local community and their country will be held on August 28, 2010 at the U.F.C.W. Local 324 Banquet Hall in Buena Park.
Among those being honored are Hon. John Hanna, Trustee, Rancho Santiago Community College District. He will receive the Harry S. Truman Award; David Sanchez, President, California Teachers Association will receive the Samuel Gompers Award; Wylie Aitken, Past Chair, Democratic Foundation of Orange County will receive the Richard J. O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award; Benny Diaz, State President, League of United Latin American Citizens will receive the Social Justice Award and the Hon. Barbara Boxer, U.S. Senator (D-CA) will receive the Environmental Award.
John Perez, Speaker of the California Assembly will be introducing Congressman Frank at the event. Perez is the first openly gay Speaker and was a respected Labor leader in Orange County prior to being elected to the Assembly. For more information, visit www.ocdemocraticparty.org.