Barney Frank Biography

Fast Facts

• Has won every election for his position in the House of Representatives since his first one in 1980
• Graduated from Harvard College in 1962 and later earned his degree from Harvard Law School in 1977
• Started out as the chief assistant to Boston Mayor Kevin White and also worked for Massachusetts Congressman Michael Harrington
• Quote: "I did want to get married while I was still in office․ I think it's important that my colleagues interact with a married gay man․"
• Quote: "I'm able to work to make fundamental changes in society and improve the quality of people's lives and eliminate and diminish unfairness․․․If I wasn't able to do what I thought was important public policy, it would be a stupid job to have․"
• Quote: "I'm used to being in the minority․ I'm a left-handed gay Jew․ I've never felt, automatically, a member of any majority․"
• Best known as a member of the U․S․ House of Representatives and the former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee
• His support of the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act in 2008 is considered to be one of the most important issues he handled in his career
• Was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1972 and later joined the U․S․ House of Representatives in 1980
• Became the first Congressman to publicly announce his homosexuality in 1987 and later the first to marry someone of the same sex in 2012