Recently-retired Democratic Congressman Barney Frank says he supports the immigration reform bill that does not contain protections for LGBT binational couples, which the Senate Judiciary Committee passed yesterday.
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“The choice we have is not between an Immigration Bill which helps same-sex couples and one that doesn’t,” Congressman Frank said in a statement, “but a choice between an Immigration Bill that does not include same-sex couples or no bill at all. Opting for no bill at all–which would have been the result if Sen. Leahy offered his amendment–would not help LGBT couples, but it would deprive millions of people of needed help.”
Yesterday, in a move widely characterized by the LGBT community and progressives as a “sell-out,” and even “rank discrimination” by none other than Senator Chuck Schumer — whom some feel was all-too-comfortable leaving LGBT couples out of the bill, Senate Judiciary Chair Patrick Leahy decided to remove his amendments from the immigration reform bill to allow it to move forward to the full Senate.
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Republicans from the start have made clear the LGBT protections would enable them to vote against the bill, just as they for months filibustered the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) because it contained LGBT protections.
“I know this was a painful decision for Sen. Leahy who has been an unwavering supporter of LGBT legal equality,” Rep. Frank said, “but it was the right one.”
“As a member of the House fighting for fair treatment for those of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, I greatly appreciated the strong support I received from members of the Hispanic caucus. I urge my friends not to push an amendment which would destroy the chance for success on the immigration issue which is important to the Hispanic community, without advancing our cause in any way,” the retired Massachusetts Congressman stated.
“Unfortunately, while Congressional Democrats are ready to provide this aid for same-sex couples, the overwhelming opposition from the Republican members to our rights means that a bill protecting them has no chance of beating a Senate filibuster, or passing the right-wing dominated House,” Frank added. “Given that reality, the morally and politically appropriate course is to help adopt a good Immigration Bill, and continue our fight for marriage rights on a parallel path,” Congressman Frank concluded.
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