(I can see his point...do you think it will cause problems for Massachusetts?):
Posted: February 18, 2004 5:06 p.m. ET
(Washington, DC) Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank Wednesday accused San Francisco of jeopardizing same-sex marriage elsewhere.
The openly gay congressman says by unilaterally deciding to challenge state law San Francisco could be strengthening the hand of those in Massachusetts and in other states pushing for amendments to state constitutions to ban gay marriage.
He also said that it could push those in Congress who are undecided about same-sex relationships into backing an amendment to the US Constitution.
Frank expressed his opinions in an interview with the Associated Press. He said he has already discussed his concerns with San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom.
He said that he told Newsom Massachusetts should have taken the lead. Frank said he had hoped Massachusetts' Supreme Judicial Court decision upholding the right of same-sex couples to marry would serve as a national model for the orderly, legal protection of gay marriage.
"If we go forward in Massachusetts and get same-sex marriage on the books, it's going to be binding and incontestable," Frank told the AP.
Instead, Frank said, San Francisco's move promotes the notion that unpopular laws can be broken or ignored.
"When you're in a real struggle, San Francisco making a symbolic point becomes a diversion," he said.
Peter Ragone, a spokesperson for Mayor Newsom disputes the allegation that the mayor's decision to issue same-sex marriage licenses promotes illegal behavior.
"We don't view this as breaking the law," Ragone said. "We view this as upholding the state's constitution, which explicitly prohibits any form of discrimination."
Earlier today California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Newsom to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. (story) Tuesday, two San Francisco judges declined to immediately order a halt to the marriages. (story)
http://www.365gay.com/newscon04/02/021804frankSF.htm
I'm also including an interview with Frank's opponent for his House seat, Chuck Morse. I hope Frank wins...2002 taught us to never take anything for granted, and Morse seems like a total NUTJOB:
http://www.tauntongazette.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=10971983&BRD=1711&PAG=461&dept_id=242
32&rfi=6
