Congressman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), one of only four openly gay lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives, gives a candid interview with Playboy magazine.
On Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell:
“The fact is, after all the fuss about ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,’ there’s been no great backlash against its repeal. As we go forward people will see that it has had absolutely no negative effect, and it will be an issue of the past. There are always predictions of horrible things that will happen, but repealing ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ will have no negative consequences. We haven’t weakened anything. Gay men and lesbians in the military will serve with distinction along with the other soldiers.
On Marriage Equality:
“I don’t see anything about gay marriage happening on a federal level. More and more states will go that way, though. When they do, people will see … that there are no negative consequences. Places that have gay marriage have had none of the negative consequences that people warned us about. Zero. The divorce rate hasn’t gone up. There have been no calamities. Marriage hasn’t lost its meaning. Same-sex marriage as a divisive issue is losing its steam. Overall I think anti-gay prejudice is on its way out.
The interview appears in the May newsstand edition, and online.
