Congress Draws Criticism Over First Pro-Gay Caucus
Conservative and pro-family groups spoke of an outrage Friday after a coalition of Republican and Democratic lawmakers joined to create the House's first Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Caucus.
Democrats Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin – the only openly gay members of Congress – were key backers of the new caucus and were successful in gathering bipartisan support for the new initiative.
Altogether, 52 House representatives signed on as members of the new caucus, including two Republicans.
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House members and supporters of the new measure were optimistic of their future plans and what they said was their mission "to achieve the extension of equal rights" for all regardless of "sexual orientation or gender identity or expression."
"With a Democratic majority in the House, we now have both the opportunity and the responsibility to move towards legal equality for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. This caucus will play an important role in helping shape the strategy by which we do this," said Congressman Barney Frank in a statement.
Peter LaBarbera of the conservative Americans for Truth, however, blasted the decision by lawmakers to promote what he said was the homosexual agenda.
"It's just unbelievable that there are this many congressmen who are promoting homosexuality," LaBarbera said in a statement.
But worse, according to LaBarbera, are the inevitable consequences that would result because of the lack of organization and power among pro-family groups to oppose the agenda of gay advocates.
"[Pro-Gay supporters] have 'earned' this extraordinary total: 52 congressmen coming right out and saying, 'We are going to vote for homosexuality and transsexuality in Congress," he said.
