Former Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) spoke about spreading LGBT rights around the world on Nov. 11, 2015 in Washington, D.C. (CNSNews.com/Penny Starr)

(CNSNews.com) – Speaking at the Center for Global Development in Washington, D.C., former Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said Wednesday that Islam has a “negative” impact on the spread of rights for homosexuals around the world.



Frank, who is married to a man, said in recent years there have been great strides around the world regarding the “rights” of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals in the United States, South American and Europe but that Islamic countries continue to outlaw homosexuality.

“Catholicism – international Catholicism – is no longer a barrier, but Islam is, and let’s be honest about it,” Frank said at an event focused on what can be done in Washington and by international organizations like the World Bank to advance LGBT rights.



He noted that despite the Vatican’s official stance on homosexuality and same-sex marriage, Catholics worldwide have supported those issues.

Frank cited remarks by Maninder Gill, director for the Social, Urban, Rural and Resilience Global Practice at the World Bank, who said at the event that Islamic members of the bank have expressed opposition to institutionalizing gay rights.



“The Islamic countries are awful,” Frank said. “They overwhelmingly voted against the [United Nations] doing anything.



“They are the negative influence there,” Frank said. “They are more of a negative influence in Africa, and I think that has to be brought out in the open and explained.



Frank said Islamic leaders have made opposing gay rights “a high priority” and called that “negative.”



Susan Dicklitch-Nelson, a professor of government at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania, was also on the panel. She touted the global barometer of gay rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex individuals developed at the college.



The map shows that 70 percent of countries around the world are in the “persecuting” homosexuals category, including many Muslim countries in Africa and the Middle East.



“The majority of countries score an F for laws that make homosexuality a punishable offense,” the college’s June article on the barometer stated.



The United States is listed in the “resistant” category, while Scandinavian countries, some of Europe and Canada are listed in the “protecting” category. The barometer uses data from 2013.