1987 May 30

Rep. Barney Frank Comes Out

 

Rep. Barney Frank (D–Massachusetts) publicly acknowledged his sexual orientation on this day.

On July 7, 2012, he married his longtime partner, James Ready.

Frank served in the House of Representatives from 1981 to 2013 and became an important leader among liberal Democrats.

Read Barney Frank’s memoirs: Barney Frank, Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage (2015)

Read: Stuart Weisberg, Barney Frank: The Story of America’s Only Gay, Left-handed, Jewish Congressman (2009)

Learn more: Donald P. Haider-Markel,  Out and Running: Gay and Lesbian Candidates, Elections, and Policy Representation  (2010)

Watch the documentary film: Let’s Get Frank (2006)

And read: Barney Frank, Speaking Frankly (1992)

View the list of all the LGBT members of Congress from the beginning here

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