Barney Frank: Out in Politics

On November 11, 2009, I spoke about “Coming Changes-the View from Washington DC on Politics and LGBT Rights.” A large part of that information comes directly from gay Congressman Barney Frank, who presented remarks at the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce legislative event and at the No.Limits.org First Annual Public Policy Conference.

Politics runs in the family. Congressman Frank’s sister Ann Lewis, is a co-founder of NoLimits.org. Ann Lewis served as a senior adviser in Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign.

Frank was born March 31, 1940 and is the United States House of Representative for Massachusetts 4th congressional district since 1981. As a member of the Democratic Party, he won his first full term in 1982, and he has been re-elected ever since by wide margins.

Frank became the second openly gay member the House of Representatives in 1987. Congresswoman Elaine Noble was the first in 1975. She served two terms, also in Massachusetts. What you may not know is that Elaine Noble was the first openly LGBT candidate elected to state representation in the United States; and the second out candidate ever to be elected overall. She was second only to Kathy Kozachenko, in Ann Arbor, Michigan, who was elected to city council in January,1974.

Of note regarding Noble’s election: I personally had the honor to play bass in an all female band called “Lilith” to celebrate her inaugural ball! Both Noble and Frank worked for Boston’s Mayor Kevin White, and then Frank served for a year as Administrative Assistant to Congressman Michael J. Harrington. In 1972, Frank was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where he served for eight years. In 1980, he ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in Boston’s 4th congressional district, hoping to succeed Father Robert Drinan. He has since been re-elected thirteen times and is widely considered to be one of the most powerful members of Congress, as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee.
Barney Frank continues to focus on the Repeal of the ”Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” bill, getting ENDA passed (the federal employment non-discrimination act) and the LGBT right to marry. He currently resides in Newton, Massachusetts. His partner is Jim Ready, is a surfing enthusiast from Maine.

RainbowVision: NGLCC LGBT Business of the Year

From Joy Silver's acceptance speech 11/6/09:

My name is Joy Silver, and I am the President and CEO for RainbowVision Properties, Inc. Thank you Wells Fargo, and thank you, National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce for this great honor.

In these challenging times, the New Success is Survival. So tonight, I accept this award for every business in this room that has survived. I am here to accept this Award for the RainbowVision Properties Principals Joyce Bogosian, Ava Stern and Jay Geisinger, and for RainbowVision Santa Fe LLC, the group of investors of who took the risk of investing money in a The Dream, with a new company, doing something that had never been done before, in an unsubstantiated and untested market. I am here to accept this award for the three original banks that also took the risk, and for the two New Mexican local banks who continue to be supportive to our project.
I am here to accept this Award for the RainbowVision Management Group of all the Managers, Directors and Employees of RainbowVision Santa. I am here to accept this award for Mayor Coss and the City of Santa Fe, Governor Bill Richardson and the State of New Mexico and especially, I am here to accept the award for the LGBTQI and A Residents and Members of RainbowVision Santa Fe itself.
Thank you all for RainbowVision Santa Fe the Dream Your Heart Made come True, and for this great honor.


To view the video behind the scenes: http://www.nglcc.org/BIZ/Video/joysilver