LGBT Equality Caucus

On June 5th, Rep. Tammy Baldwin(D-Wis.) and Barney Frank (D-Mass.) formed the LGBT Equality Caucus. The group is bipartisan and has 52 members in the House of Representatives.

Baldwin also noted the significance of launching the caucus with bipartisan support. “We have to have the most effective communication possible with both sides,” she said. “Our Republican charter members will be great at educating and being role models for their side of the aisle.”

The two Republican charter members are Connecticut’s Chris Shays and Florida’s Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, but others are expected to join this week. Shays agreed that forming the LGBT Equality Caucus is pivotal in educating fellow lawmakers. But he sees another reason why this particular caucus will be successful. Unlike most caucuses, which are helmed by a Republican and a Democratic cochair, “in this case, you have two cochairs who happen to be one gay and one lesbian -- individuals who have experienced the very discrimination we’re talking about.” That, he said, will show other lawmakers firsthand that being gay is not a threat to the social fabric of the country.

I'm surprised that Ileana Ros-Lehtinen joined the caucus. Her neoconservative heart is surprisingly liberal socially.

In related news: Debbie Wasserman Schultz has been named Vice Chair of the LGBT Equality Caucus.