[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12311]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           A STRONG VOICE AGAINST DISCRIMINATION OF ALL SORTS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BARNEY FRANK

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 29, 2010

  Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts. Madam Speaker, I was very proud in the 
70's to show my support for appropriate bipartisanship by supporting 
and working closely with Senator Ed Brooke, who was twice elected to 
the Senate as a Republican and was a staunch fighter against 
discrimination, for strong support for rental housing for low-income 
people, and in general for fiscal responsibility within the context of 
social concerns. I was therefore very pleased, but not at all 
surprised, to read in the Boston Globe on June 22, 2010 a strong 
expression of support for repeal of the ``don't ask, don't tell'' 
policy, which has discriminated against so many patriotic Americans 
seeking to serve their country. Senator Brooke notes that he himself 
was the victim of discriminatory policies when he served in a 
segregated U.S. Army in World War II, and as an African American, was 
treated unfairly. He does affirm that there are differences in the 
effect of the policies and the impact they have between racial 
segregation and ``don't ask, don't tell,'' but as he says after 
discussing the experience of racial segregation, ``The point is that 
the ban (on gay and lesbian members in the military) is a weapon and 
expression of prejudice--no more excusable than any other 
discriminatory law.''
  Consistent with his lifelong record of fighting for fairness in 
America, Senator Brooke closes the article by saying, ``If I was still 
in the Senate, I would vote to show my respect for the sacrifices of 
all soldiers--gay and straight. Congress should repeal this legislation 
and score another victory of progress over prejudice.''
  Madam Speaker, I was proud to stand with Ed Brooke in the 70's and I 
am very proud that he is standing with those of us who are fighting for 
fairness today.

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