Barney Frank

Barney Frank – one of the most impactful LGBTQ+ elected officials in history – was first elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1972 and served until his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980. In 1987, Frank came out, the first LGBTQ+ member of Congress to do so voluntarily. He won landslide re-elections until his retirement in 2013. Frank became one of the most powerful members of Congress, serving as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee from 2007 to 2011 and then as ranking member of the committee from 2011 to 2013. He was a leading voice on LGBTQ+ equality throughout his time in office.