Barney Frank came out in 1987

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I was 19 and still in the closet. The fact is back in 1987, the idea of being a gay professional (say lawyer or teacher or doctor) was at best difficult to see happening. Sodomy laws not only existed but were explicitly upheld by the Supreme Court (ironically a closeted gay man was clerking for Justice Powell at the time). Marriage equality was considered a fringe idea even in the gay rights community.

I have now been a teacher for coming up on three decades, and for pretty much all of that I have been out to fellow teachers and for close to 20 years I have been out to students. Again, that was very rare back when Frank came out. Even in a liberal district in a liberal state it was by no means assured he would win reelection, but win he did and he never looked back electorally.

The fact is Frank helped advance the LGBT community during his time in office. Though to be fair, he was not nearly as good at or interested in advancing trans rights. I wish he had been better about trans issues than he was. But overall he helped far more than he hurt the community.

By early in Obama's term he was the most powerful gay legislator the country had ever seen but on his signature issue (financial reform after the crash of 2008) the fact he was a gay man largely didn't come up. It had been over 10 years since Dick Armey called him Barney Fag and the coverage of him and the law centered, sensibly, on what the law would do and why he wrote it.

Like him, my being gay is not an issue at work for the most part. I am known as the Infinite Campus guy and for teaching both Social Studies and math (unusual in high school). The fact is people like Barney Frank paved that way for many of us.

I know for those coming in adulthood recently and now the world of Barney Frank's early Congressional career and my early adulthood is as remote as black and white movies and WW2 were to me but for those of us who remember this time frame it was a very real thing, not some period piece.

If one judges a life well lived as a life that left the world better than it was before, Frank had a life well lived.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

1. May he rest in peace

I was a member of the Texas Clinton delegation to the 2016 National Convention. The Texas delegation was seated directly behind the Massachusetts delegation. Senator Warren was seated two rows ahead of me. I remember shaking the hand of Congressman Franks at the convention. It was a honor to shake his hand.

[MustLoveBeagles]

2. He was a trailblazer no doubt about it

May he RIP.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

3. Statement of President Obama on the passing of Congressman Frank

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

In his statement, Obama said:

“Barney Frank was one of a kind. For more than three decades in Congress, he fought tirelessly for the people of Massachusetts, helped make housing more affordable, stood up for the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans, and helped pass one of the most sweeping financial reforms in history designed to protect consumers and prevent another financial crisis. Barney’s passion and wit were second to none, and our thoughts are with his family today.”

Frank was a legendary progressive legislator whose impact shaped modern America. Elected to Congress in 1980, he quickly became one of the most influential voices in the Democratic Party. Some of his greatest achievements include:

* Co-authoring the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act in 2010, the most significant financial regulation since the Great Depression, which created the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and imposed new rules on banks to prevent another 2008-style meltdown.

* Being one of the earliest and most forceful advocates for LGBTQ+ rights in Congress. In 1987, Frank became the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay, helping normalize visibility and fight discrimination.

* Championing affordable housing and fighting predatory lending throughout his career, consistently working to protect working families from exploitative practices in the housing market.

* Playing a key role in the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and pushing for marriage equality at the federal level.

Known for his sharp intellect, quick wit, and willingness to battle conservatives on the House floor, Frank was a larger-than-life figure who never shied away from a fight. His legacy as a principled, effective progressive will continue to inspire generations of Democrats.

Frank died last night at his home in Maine of congestive heart failure at age 86. From 1981 to 2013, he represented Massachusetts's 4th congressional district.

Rest in peace, Congressman Frank. Your service made America a better and fairer nation.