GOProud Backs Frank's Challenger

GOProud has endorsed Sean Bielat, an independent consultant and Marine Corps Reserve officer, who is challenging longtime representative Barney Frank in Massachusetts's fourth congressional district.

"If we really want to protect gay jobs we don't need to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, we need to fire Barney Frank," Jimmy LaSalvia, GOProud's executive director, said in a statement Thursday. LaSalvia added that Frank's position leading the House Financial Services committee has led to the "financial meltdown that cost millions of Americans -- including gay and lesbian workers -- their jobs."

LaSalvia said that Bielat supports free-market health care reforms to expand gay and lesbian couples' access as well as privatized Social Security allowing same-sex couples to leave their benefits to their partners. The Republican candidate is also pro-gun, favors school choice, and believes that marriage equality is a state issue, according to the statement.

In June a spokesman for Frank told The Advocate that a vote on ENDA, despite some resistance on Capitol Hill, would take place by the end of 2010.