FRANK FACTS
by michael spradley Shockingly dismaying, only 37 percent of LGBT
youth described themselves as happy. Especially when compared to the percentage of Hetero- sexual youth describing themselves as happy, at 30 percent higher than the LGBT youth. Over 54 percent of LGBT youth said they
had been a victim of anti-gay slurs and nearly half felt they did not fit into their community. 92 percent say they hear negative messages about being LGBT, with 60 percent saying those negative messages come from elected officials. The biggest concern for LGBT youth was their identity, the possibility of non-accepting families and bullying. Today the LGBT community has become much
A History Lesson with Congressman Barney Frank
n June 7, 2012 the Human Rights Campaign Fund (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered
civil rights organization published the first national corollary study of straight teens and their LGBT counterparts in America. The survey polled more than 10,000 respondents between the ages of 13-17.
Yes—Republican John Soto was running against me and during the campaign he demanded that I take an HIV test; I told him that I would be
happy to, as soon as he took an IQ test.
more mainstream with television, movies and culture icons, but as many of us know, it was not always so. My nieces and nephews in middle school and high school honestly don’t care if someone is gay. They have grown up with Will and Grace, Glee and other shows that have slowly introduced and acclimated them to LGBT culture. To them being gay is just part of life. As I look back, LGBT role models in the ‘70s and ‘80s were few and far between. That’s why the coming out of Congressman Barney Frank in 1987 was so sig-
50 RAGE monthly | JULY 2012
nificant, setting the federal stage for future law makers. It is also why he should be considered a historical figure in American LGBT history. My phone rang on a Thursday in June at 6:20
p.m. and on the line was Congressman Barney Frank, the most prominent gay politician in the United States. Not only was Mr. Frank kind enough to share his thoughts on LGBT youth in America, we also had a chance to talk about his landmark coming out process as a member of the House of Representatives. What are your thoughts on the HRC survey of LGBT Youth that was published on June 7? HRC does a very good job, this survey confirms
what we know and have tried to dismiss. In your opinion what are the most productive actions
people can take to achieve equality in the United States To be out and be the person you were born to be. This will help defeat the preju-
dice all LGBT people experience. The second is to vote and know the people you are voting for. Use your rights as a citizen of the United States and know what that means. Be an active Democrat. What is your advice to LGBT youth in America? You should be honest with yourself about who you are. Hiding who you are
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