Frank, Barney (1940-…), a Massachusetts Democrat, was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1981 to 2013. Frank was the first openly homosexual member of Congress. He announced his homosexuality in 1987, while running for reelection. He won reelection by a wide margin, receiving about 70 percent of the vote in 1988. He became a pioneer in demanding equal rights for homosexuals.
As a congressman, Frank became known for his liberal views. He opposed the death penalty, favored increased funding for education and health care, and often supported legislation to benefit workers, women, and minority groups. He was also known for his sharp wit and his speaking ability.
Frank was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, on March 31, 1940. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 1962 and a law degree from Harvard Law School in 1977.
Frank served as chief assistant to Mayor Kevin White of Boston from 1968 to 1971. He held a seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1973 to 1980. Frank won election to his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980 and took office in 1981. He won reelection to the House every two years from 1980 to 2010. From 2007 to 2011, Frank chaired the House Financial Services Committee. In 2010, Frank was a cosponsor, with Connecticut Senator Christopher Dodd, of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The act featured a number of sweeping reforms of the nation’s financial system. Frank did not seek reelection to the House in November 2012. He wrote a memoir, Frank (2015).
