Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), speaking to some 700 supporters of the Victory Fund at the group’s annual fundraising brunch in Washington yesterday, said the LGBT community will win full equality in America, but not unless we keep fighting hard for it.

“We’re gonna win this battle, there’s no question. … I know people are frustrated, ‘Well, we’re always fighting.’ Of course we’re always fighting, because we have taken on a major task: eradicating one of the great prejudices of human history.  So, of course, we’re going to keep fighting until it’s all over,” said Frank.

Frank also urged the community to focus on politics as a means to achieve their goals, and said helping to elect more openly LGBT candidates is an effective way to change the minds that still need to be changed.

“Legislating is a very personal business.  Prejudice is literally ignorance. It is people prejudging based on a stereotype that substitutes for reality. Reality undermines that. So, the more they see us, the better it is,” Frank said.

Also appearing at the brunch yesterday, Houston Mayor Annise Parker urged attendees to support local LGBT candidates for offices such as city council and school board, explaining that’s how most higher-profile elected officials get their start in politics.

Read more about the event at Metro Weekly.