Few elected Republicans have been willing to go on the record this week about President Obama’s support for marriage equality, which has created an opening for religious conservatives to speak out to media news outlets. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, has made numerous appearances, including at least three on CNN over the past few days. GLAAD’s Herndon Graddick took CNN to task for ignoring the vitriol Perkins stands for as the leader of an anti-gay hate group:

But when Perkins gets interviewed, a responsible journalist needs to tell the audience exactly who Perkins is speaking for. Based on his own statements — Tony Perkins represents people who believe supporting LGBT equality is akin to being a terrorist. Who believe marriage equality is the same as bestiality. Who say that gay people are “vile,” “hateful,” “spiteful” “pawns of the enemy.” Tony Perkins does not represent people who oppose marriage equality. Tony Perkins represents those who oppose LGBT people — period.

If CNN wants that side represented in this discussion, then Perkins is absolutely the right man for the job. But they need to make it clear to the audience that that’s what he’s there for. And by not doing so, they have not told the whole story.

GLAAD created the Commentator Accountability Project for exactly this reason, to make sure that anti-gay voices are properly identified and contextualized when they’re amplified by the media. After several appearances in which Perkins’ views went unchallenged, he finally faced his comeuppance in an appearance on MSNBC’s Harball yesterday evening. Both Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) and host Christ Matthews took Perkins to task for teaching his children that being gay is wrong and for preventing children in need from being adopted by same-sex couples. Watch it:

The Tennessee Tea Party demonstrated yesterday that it has no reservations taking “bold” stands on social issues. Responding to the announcement that Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) would not seek reelection, the organization tweeted the following:

“Good riddance you perverted sodomite POS!! fb.me/1emMURmJa“

The Tea Party has long claimed to not take sides on social issues, and LGBT issues have been absent from Tea Party-organized presidential debates. Nevertheless, some tea party groups have made their anti-LGBT stances quite vocal: opposing same-sex marriage, defending ex-gay therapy, and supporting the repeal of a California law that makes education LGBT-inclusive.

The Tennessee Tea Party’s own mission statement speaks to the financial accountability of government, and its “Core Objectives” make little reference to social issues.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2012 and that he will be retiring from Congress. Frank leaves behind a storied legacy as only the second openly gay member of Congress who has championed numerous progressive caucuses from the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell to financial regulation.

In announcing his retirement, Frank said he believes his leverage as a legislator has diminished and that he can better influence Congress as a private citizen and activist. ThinkProgress has assembled a list of Barney Frank’s last crusades — policy struggles that progressives should take up with even more vigor now that the congressman has announced his retirement:

1. Drastically Curtail Military Spending: Last year, Frank assembled a list of budgetary and military experts of every ideology to form the Sustainable Defense Task Force (SDTF). Under Frank’s tutelage, the SDTF laid out a trillion dollars worth of military spending cuts the United States could enact within a decade without undermining its security. More recently, when the super committee failed to reach a deal, Frank said it was “good” because the Defense Department “will take a big share of the cuts” that will automatically be enacted during the mandated sequester process.

2. Defending The Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Law: Last year, Congress passed into law the Dodd-Frank financial reform law. Frank has committed himself to defending this package of financial regulations from Republican attacks, even testifying before his colleagues in the Senate to defend certain parts of the law. With presidential contenders like Mitt Romney promising to repeal the law, it remains under attack.

3. Repealing The Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA): Earlier this year, Frank co-sponsored legislation that would repeal DOMA. When Republicans complained that the bill may hurt them politically, Frank remarked, “The fact that we’ve now evolved to the point where the Republicans are complaining about the fact that we introduced this bill because it causes them political problems is a great sign of progress.” In his retirement speech, Frank challenged GOP presidential primary candidate Newt Gingrich to a debate over DOMA, saying that he is an “ideal opponent for us, when we talk about just who it is, is threatening the sanctity of marriage.”

4. Passing The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA): Frank has repeatedly supported and introduced the ENDA bill, which would outlaw discrimination in the workplace against LGBT individuals. In a passionate moment while debating the bill in 2007, Frank, choking back tears, explained that he had “an obligation to fifteen year olds dreading to go to school, because of the torments, to people who are afraid they’ll lose their job at a gas station if someone finds out who they love, I feel obligated to use the status I have been lucky enough to get, to help them.”

5. Ending Federal Prohibition of Marijuana: Working with his Republican colleague Rep. Ron Paul (TX), Frank introduced a bill that would end federal prohibitions on marijuana and allow states to regulate it themselves. Frank said he was “particularly struck by the hypocrisy of public officials who will themselves talk about smoking marijuana, wink at it, and then make it criminal for other people.”

6. Establishing A Universal Health Care System: While he supported the health care reforms in the Affordable Care Act, Frank was ultimately an outspoken proponent of a single-payer health care system that operates like Medicare for all Americans. During an appearance on the Ed Show, Frank said, “I’m for single payer, which I think Medicare has shown is the best system. I will accept as second best a very good public option which, by the way, when the conservatives say will lead to a total public plan, they are conceding our point, namely that people will find that there is a better level of care.”

Frank was one of the 99 Percent’s best allies in Congress, and with his departure, progressives can honor his legacy by continuing to advocate for the causes of his unfinished crusades.