Barney Frank to keynote Texas Stonewall 'Equality Forward' conference
QSanAntonio.com, March 2, 2013

Former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank will be the keynote speaker of the Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus' Equality Forward Summit, slated for April 5 to 7 in Austin, Texas. Houston Mayor Annise Parker will introduce Frank, who is the first openly gay member of Congress.

The Equality Forward Summit brings together members of the Stonewall Democrat chapters from around the Texas with officials from the state party. It will provide training sessions by the Texas Democratic Party, Texas Stonewall and other expert and activist groups.

Congressman Frank's speech, titled "A Frank Take on The Road Ahead: An Evening With Barney Frank," will take place on Saturday, April 6 at 7:30 p.m. at the Austin Airport Hilton, where the conference is being held.

Frank served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 2013. He served as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee from 2007 to 2011 and co-sponsored the 2010 Dodd–Frank Act, a sweeping reform of the U.S. financial industry. He is a resident of Newton, Massachusetts, and considered the most prominent gay politician in the United States.

"I know some people want Texas to secede (again) but the opposite is happening - the trends of increasing support for Democrats nationally are moving Texas in the same direction as the rest of the country," Frank is quoted as saying in the Texas Stonewall press release.

Democrats in Texas were the first Southern state party to endorse marriage equality. The language that went into the party platform regarding marriage was composed with the help of LGBT political activists most of whom are members of the Stonewall Democrats.

“The Texas Democratic Party understands the importance of equality, and we stand with our LGBT brothers and sisters in the continued work to move Texas forward, ” says state Democratic Party chair Gilberto Hinojosa.

According to organizers, the Equality Forward Summit continues the collaborative relationship between Texas Stonewall and the state party. They say their aim is inform and educate the Texas LGBT community on matters of politics and policies, and update the state party on the issues important to the LGBT community.

“Texas will take the lead in the South to advance equality. The Texas Stonewall Democrats and the Texas Democratic Party understand and are committed to working together because only then can Texas make a difference for all of its citizens,” says Eli Olivarez, president of Texas Stonewall.

The Texas Stonewall Democratic Caucus presents the Equality Forward Summit, April 5 - 7, 2013, at the Hilton Austin Airport Hotel, 9515 Hotel Drive, Austin TX 78719. Click here for complete information.