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{{short description|American politician (born 1940)}}
{{Infobox Congressman
{{pp|small=yes}}
| name =Barney Frank
{{good article}}
| image name =Barney_Frank.jpg
{{use American English|date=April 2024}}
| imagesize = 171px
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
| date of birth= {{birth date and age|1940|3|31}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| place of birth= ]
|image = Barney Frank (cropped)(2).jpg
| death_date =
|state = ]
| death_place =
|district = {{ushr|MA|4|4th}}
| state = ]
|term_start = January 3, 1981
| district = ]
| term_start = January 5, 1981 |term_end = January 3, 2013
| preceded = ] |predecessor = ]
|successor = ]
| succeeded = Incumbent
|office1 = Ranking Member of the ]
| party = ]
|term_start1 = January 3, 2011
| religion = ] <ref></ref>
|term_end1 = January 3, 2013
| alma_mater= ] and ]
|predecessor1 = ]
| spouse=
|successor1 = ]
| occupation= Attorney, ]
|term_start2 = January 3, 2003
| residence= ]
|term_end2 = January 3, 2007
|predecessor2 = ]
|successor2 = ]
|office3 = Chair of the ]
|term_start3 = January 4, 2007
|term_end3 = January 3, 2011
|preceded3 = ]
|succeeded3 = ]
|office4 = Member of the ]
|constituency4 = ] (1973–1979)<br>] (1979–1981)
|term_start4 = January 3, 1973
|term_end4 = January 3, 1981
|predecessor4 = Eliot Wadsworth
|successor4 = Thomas Vallely
|birth_name = Barnett Frank
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1940|3|31}}
|birth_place = ], U.S.
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = ]
|spouse = {{marriage|Jim Ready|2012}}
|education = ] (], ])
|module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Rep. Barney Frank on the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.ogg|title=Barney Frank's voice|type=speech|description=Frank, as chair of the ], on the need for the ]<br />Recorded September 29, 2008}}
}} }}
'''Barnett Frank''' (born March 31, 1940) is a retired American politician. He served as a member of the ] from ] from 1981 to 2013. A ], Frank served as chairman of the ] from 2007 to 2011 and was a leading co-sponsor of the 2010 ]. Frank, a resident of ], was considered the most prominent gay politician in the United States during his time in Congress.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/barney-frank-20878097 |title=Barney Frank Biography |publisher=] |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120719164948/http://www.biography.com/people/barney-frank-20878097 |archive-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/liberal-icon-frank-eyes-high-profile-retirement |title=Liberal icon Frank eyes high-profile retirement |agency=Associated Press |last=Peoples |first=Steve |date=December 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121217144353/http://bigstory.ap.org/article/liberal-icon-frank-eyes-high-profile-retirement |archive-date=December 17, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/2chambers/wp/2012/12/03/when-barney-frank-announced-he-was-coming-out-of-the-room-er-the-closet/ |title=When Barney Frank announced he was 'coming out of the room' (er ... the closet) |last=O'Keefe |first=Ed |date=December 3, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Kiritsy |first=Laura |title=Happy Anniversary, Barney Frank! |newspaper=Edge Boston |date=May 31, 2007 |url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=20762 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119181159/http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=20762 |archive-date=January 19, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.out.com/out-exclusives/power-50/2009/04/03/3rd-annual-power-50#slide-49 |title=3rd Annual Power 50 |work=] |date=April 2009 |access-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref>


Born and raised in ], Frank graduated from ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Barone |first1=Michael |author-link1=Michael Barone (pundit) |last2=Ujifusa |first2=Grant |title=The Almanac of American Politics 1988 |year=1987 |page=555|title-link=The Almanac of American Politics }}</ref> He worked as a political aide before winning election to the ] in 1972. He was elected to the ] in 1980 with 52 percent of the vote. He was re-elected every term thereafter by wide margins. In 1987, he publicly ] as ], becoming the first member of Congress to do so voluntarily. From 2003 until his retirement, Frank was the leading Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, and he served as committee chairman when his party held a House majority from 2007 to 2011. In July 2012, he married his long-time partner, James Ready, becoming the first member of Congress to marry someone of the same sex while in office.<ref>{{cite web|last=Sink |first=Justin |url=https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/104077-barney-frank-to-marry-longtime-partner/ |title=Barney Frank To Marry Longtime Partner |work=The Hill |date=January 26, 2012 |access-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Barney Frank Gets Married; The Bridegrooms Wore Black|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/07/08/156458523/barney-frank-gets-married-the-bridegrooms-wore-black|access-date=March 8, 2021|publisher=NPR|date=July 8, 2012|language=en|last1=Goh|first1=Melisa}}</ref> Frank did not seek re-election in ], and was succeeded by fellow Democrat ].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/11/barney-frank-to.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130005018/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2011/11/barney-frank-to.php |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 30, 2011 |title=Barney Frank to retire from Congress |first=jessica |last=Taylor |date=November 28, 2011 |work=] |access-date=November 28, 2011 }}</ref> Frank's autobiography, ''A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage'', was published in 2015.<ref name="us.macmillan.com">{{cite web|url=http://us.macmillan.com/frank/barneyfrank|title=Frank|author=Macmillan|work=Macmillan}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2015/03/16/book-review-frank-life-politics-from-great-society-same-sex-marriage-barney-frank/pcULlWUpdM4DgLgurxbc3L/story.html|title='Frank: A Life in Politics From the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage' by Barney Frank |work=The Boston Globe}}</ref>
'''Barnett "Barney" Frank''' (born March 31, 1940) is an American ] in the ] representing {{ushr|Massachusetts|4|}} since 1981. In 1982 he won his first full term and has been re-elected ever since by wide margins.<ref name="SSMMWOCR"></ref> In 1987 Frank became the first Representative to ] as ] of his own volition and, at that time, was the most prominent ] gay American politician.<ref group=note>Frank, who was elected to the House in 1980, was the first gay congressional representative to ] on his own. Congressman ] had been the only openly gay federal legislator, having survived the revelation in 1983 that he had had a relationship with a 17-year-old male ] some years earlier.</ref><ref> </ref><ref> </ref>


Prior to his time in the House of Representatives, Frank served in the ] from 1973 to 1981.<ref name="1975-76" /><ref name="1973-1974" /><ref name="1977-78" /><ref name="1979-80" />
President ]'s former speechwriter Josh Gottheimer noted in his book, ''Ripples of Hope: Great American Civil Rights Speeches'', that Frank is one of the nation's "brightest and most energetic defenders of ] issues".<ref> </ref> In 2007 Frank became the chairman of the ] which oversees housing and banking industries. The ''New York Times'' called Frank one of the most powerful members of Congress noting "his ability to build bridges across party lines to pass legislation".<ref></ref>


==Early life== ==Early life, education, and early career==
Frank was born in ], one of four children of Elsie (''née'' Golush) and Samuel Frank.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/49669-barney-frank-wants-cabinet-post/ |title=Barney Frank wants Cabinet post |first=Bob |last=Cusack |date=September 7, 2009 |work=] |access-date=September 8, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nysun.com/arts/elsie-frank-92-activist-mother-of-rep-barney |title=Elsie Frank, 92, Activist Mother of Rep. Barney Frank and Ann Lewis |date=August 9, 2005 |website=The New York Sun |access-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413235145/https://www.nysun.com/arts/elsie-frank-92-activist-mother-of-rep-barney |url-status=dead }}</ref> His family was Jewish, and his grandparents had emigrated from Poland and Russia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/frank.htm |title=barney frank |publisher=Freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com |access-date=March 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130704072736/http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~battle/reps/frank.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Frank's father ran a truck stop in ]—a place Frank has described as "totally corrupt"—and when Frank was 6 or 7, his father served a year in prison for refusing to testify to a ] against Frank's uncle.<ref name="Toobin" /> Frank was educated at ], before matriculating at ], where he resided in Matthews Hall his first year and then in ] and ]. He graduated in 1962.


Frank was born to a ] family in ] and was educated at ], where he resided in ] and then ], graduating in 1962. He taught undergraduates at Harvard while studying for a ], but left before completing the degree in 1968, to become ] mayor ]'s Chief Assistant, a position he held for three years. He then served for a year as Administrative Assistant to Congressman ]. Frank's undergraduate studies were interrupted by the death of his father, and Frank took a year off to help resolve the family's affairs prior to his graduation.<ref name="Toobin" /> In 1964, he was a volunteer in Mississippi during ].<ref>Bruce Watson, Freedom Summer: The Savage Season That Made Mississippi Burn and Made America a Democracy, at 161–162 (Viking 2010).</ref> He taught undergraduates at Harvard while studying for a PhD in Government, but left in 1968 before completing the degree, to become Boston mayor ]'s Chief Assistant, a position he held for three years. He then served for a year as Administrative Assistant to Congressman ]. In 1977, Frank graduated from ], where he was once a student of ],<ref>{{YouTube|_9J9lw2MSG0|Speech at the Council of Foreign Relations}}, November 14, 2011</ref> while serving as a Massachusetts state representative.


==Political career== ==Pre-congressional career==
In 1972, Frank was elected to the ] where he served for eight years.<ref name=1973-1974>{{cite book |title=1973–1974 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |url= https://archive.org/details/publicofficersof19731974bost/page/n3/mode/2up |year=1973 |via=] }}</ref><ref name=1975-76>{{cite book |chapter-url= https://archive.org/details/manualforuseofge200506mass/page/338/mode/2up |year= 2005 |location=Boston |publisher=Commonwealth of Massachusetts |title= Manual for the Use of the General Court |chapter=Organization of the Legislature Since 1780 |page=338+ }}</ref><ref name=1977-78>{{cite book |title=1977–1978 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |url= https://archive.org/details/publicofficersof19771978bost |year=1977 |via=] }}</ref><ref name=1979-80>{{cite book |title=1979-1980 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |location= Boston |url= https://archive.org/details/publicofficersof19791980bost/mode/2up }}</ref> He made a name for himself in the mid-1970s as a political defender of the ], Boston's notorious red light district. Neighborhoods in Frank's district bordered the Combat Zone. As a means of dealing with crime in the area (including violence, police corruption and the infiltration by organized crime), he introduced a bill into the ] that would have legalized the sex-for-hire business but kept it quarantined in a red light district, which would have been moved to Boston's Financial District.<ref>{{cite news |title=A Frank Suggestion: Hookers in the Financial District |work=Boston Herald-American |date=November 25, 1976}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Guest Post: Anne Gray Fischer Presents A History of 'The Combat Zone' |url=http://v.tgdn.net/2009/09/guest-post-anne-gray-fischer-history-of-the-combat-zone.html |author=Fischer, Anne Gray |work=Vernacular |date=September 29, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724094328/http://v.tgdn.net/2009/09/guest-post-anne-gray-fischer-history-of-the-combat-zone.html |archive-date=July 24, 2011 }}</ref>
]
In 1972, Frank was elected to the ], where he served for eight years. During that time, he entered ] and graduated in 1977.


While in state and local government, Frank taught part time at the ], the ] at Harvard and at ]. He published numerous articles on politics and public affairs, and in 1992 he published ''Speaking Frankly'', an essay on the role the Democratic Party should play in the 1990s. In 1979, Frank ] in Massachusetts. While in state and local government, he taught, part-time, at the ], the ] at Harvard, and at ]. He published numerous articles on politics and public affairs; in 1992, he published ''Speaking Frankly'', an essay on the role the Democratic Party should play in the 1990s.


==U.S. House of Representatives==
In 1979, Frank became a member of the Massachusetts Bar. A year later, he ran for the ] in the 4th congressional district, hoping to succeed Father ], who had left Congress following a call by ] for priests to withdraw from political positions. In the Democratic primary held on September 16, 1980 Frank won 51.3% of the vote in a four-candidate field. His nearest opponent, Arthur J. Clark won 45.9% and finished almost 4,500 votes behind.<ref></ref> As the Democratic nominee, faced Republican Richard A. Jones in the general election and won narrowly – 51.9% to 48.1%.<ref></ref>
]


===Elections===
For his first term, Frank represented a district in the western and southern suburbs of ], anchored by ] and ]. However, in 1982, ] forced him to run against ] ], who represented a district centered on the ], including ] and ]. Although the newly configured district retained Frank's district number &mdash; the 4th &mdash; it was geographically more Heckler's district. Frank focused on Heckler's initial support for President ]'s tax cuts, and won by 20 percentage points. He has not faced credible opposition since, and has been reelected thirteen times.<ref name=Advocate /><ref name=Advocate2>{{cite web|author=Benoit Denizet-Lewis, with photographs by Henry Leutwyler|url=http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid67124.asp |title=Harrumph! Barney Frank is smiling. Really. (front cover, pages 56-61)|publisher='']''|date= 01-13-09|accessdate=2008-12-11}}</ref>
In 1980, Frank ran for the ] in the 4th congressional district, hoping to succeed Reverend ], who had left Congress, following a call by ] for priests to withdraw from political positions. In the Democratic ] held on September 16, 1980, Frank won 52% of the vote in a four-candidate field.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=412560 |title=MA District 4 – D Primary Race – Sep 16, 1980 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/massachusettsele1980mass |title=Massachusetts Election Results, 1980|year=1980}}</ref> As the Democratic nominee, he faced ] Richard A. Jones in the general election and won narrowly, 52–48%.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/1980election.pdf |title=Statistics of the Presidential and Congressional Election of November 4, 1980 |author=Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives |publisher=] |year=1981}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=49564 |title=MA District 4 Race – Nov 04, 1980 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>


For his first term, Frank represented a district in the western and southern suburbs of Boston, anchored by ] and his hometown of ]. However, in 1982, ] forced him to run against ] ], who represented a district centered on the ], including ] and ]. Although the newly configured district retained Frank's district number—the 4th—it was geographically more Heckler's district. Frank focused on Heckler's initial support for President ]'s tax cuts, and won with 60% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=37091 |title=MA District 4 Race – Nov 02, 1982 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
===Steve Gobie===
In 1990, The House Ethics Committee recommended Frank be reprimanded because he "reflected discredit upon the House" by using his congressional office to fix 33 of Steve Gobie's parking tickets.


Frank did not face another serious race again for a quarter-century.<ref name="Advocate" /><ref name="Advocate2">{{cite web|author=Benoit Denizet-Lewis, with photographs by Henry Leutwyler |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126083533/http://advocate.com/issue_story_ektid67124.asp |archive-date=January 26, 2009 |url=http://advocate.com/issue_story_ektid67124.asp |title=Harrumph! Barney Frank is smiling. Really. (front cover, pages 56–61) |work=] |date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=December 11, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> From 1984 to 2008, he won re-election 12 times with at least 67% of the vote.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=982 |title=Candidate – Barney Frank |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref> In 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, Frank won with more than an overwhelming 97% of the vote, with no challenge from a major political party.
The investigation into Gobie and Frank's interactions were prompted by Gobie's attempt to cash in on lies stating Frank knew and approved of Gobie's illegal activities in the Frank residence. "Two years , Gobie tried unsuccessfully to sell his story to the Washington Post. He then gave the story to the Washington Times for nothing, in hopes of getting a book contract for the male version of The Mayflower Madam." <ref>http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,958598,00.html</ref>


In 2010, Frank ran for his 16th term. Public opinion polling showed him facing his first credible challenge since defeating Heckler in 1982. His opponent was Republican ], a U.S. Marine veteran and businessman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=235392 |title=Candidate – Sean Bielat |publisher=Our Campaigns |date=September 14, 2010 |access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref> In mid-September, an internal poll showed Frank leading 48–38%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.seanbielat.org/news/2010-09-22/poll-support-barney-frank-drops-below-50-bielat-within-10 |title=Poll: Support for Barney Frank Drops Below 50%; Bielat within 10 &#124; Sean Bielat for Congress |publisher=Seanbielat.org |date=September 22, 2010 |access-date=December 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219095920/http://www.seanbielat.org/news/2010-09-22/poll-support-barney-frank-drops-below-50-bielat-within-10 |archive-date=December 19, 2011}}</ref> In late October, he loaned his campaign $200,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020175-503544.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022002621/http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20020175-503544.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 22, 2010 |title=Barney Frank Loans Campaign $200K as He Fights Tea Party Challenge – Political Hotsheet |publisher=CBS News |access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref> In early October, '']'' changed its assessment of the district from "solid Democratic" to "likely Democratic"—meaning that while Frank was favored, a victory by Bielat could not be entirely ruled out. While Frank had a 3-to-1 advantage in terms of cash on hand, Bielat outraised him in September.<ref>{{cite web|author=Amanda Paulson |url=http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/The-Vote/2010/1019/Could-Barney-Frank-lose-his-House-seat-to-newcomer-Sean-Bielat |title=Could Barney Frank lose his House seat to newcomer Sean Bielat? |work=The Christian Science Monitor |date=October 19, 2010 |access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref> On October 25, a survey by ''The Boston Globe'' showed Frank leading 46–33%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/10/25/democrats_hold_edge_in_two_key_house_contests/ |title=Democrats hold edge in two key House contests |work=The Boston Globe|date=October 25, 2010 |access-date=December 1, 2011 |first=Alan |last=Wirzbicki}}</ref> Frank won re-election to his 16th term, 54–43%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=490778 |title=MA – District 04 Race – Nov 02, 2010 |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=December 1, 2011}}</ref>
After an investigation, the Ethics Committee found no evidence that Frank had known of or been involved in the alleged illegal activity and dismissed all of Gobie's more scandalous claims. <ref>, which cites the ']'', 7/27/1990, as well as the Ethics Committee's report, 7/20/1990.</ref><ref>Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, Page 37 -"In numerous instances where an assertion made by Mr. Gobie (either publicly or during his Committee deposition) was investigated for accuracy, the assertion was contradicted by third-party sworn testimony or other evidence of Mr. Gobie himself."</ref>


On November 28, 2011, Frank announced at a news conference that he would not seek re-election in 2012.
Attempts to expel or ] Frank, led by Republican member ] (who himself was later embroiled in his own ] ]), failed.<ref>"What to do about Barney Frank // Congress faces nasty confrontation on handling sexual misconduct", Rowland Evans, Robert Novak. ''Austin American Statesman''. Austin, Tex.: Oct 17, 1989. pg. A.8 "Word spread through the GOP cloakroom that Rep. Larry Craig of Idaho was standing firm inside the Ethics Committee."</ref><ref>"Frank reprimanded for aiding prostitute" Elaine S. Povich, '']'' Chicago, Ill.: Jul 27, 1990. pg. 4 "The ethics committee, officially known as the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, had unanimously recommended that Frank be reprimanded and Frank did not contest the charge. But the committee was severely split, took months to make up its mind on the punishment, and during the vote Thursday three GOP members of the panel &mdash; Reps. ] of Wisconsin, Larry Craig of Idaho and ] of Utah &mdash; voted for censure, the more severe sanction."</ref> Rather, the House voted 408-18 to reprimand Frank who later won re-election in 1990 with 66 percent of the vote, and has won by larger margins ever since.<ref></ref>


===Tenure===
===Political initiatives and positions===
====LGBT issues====
Frank has been outspoken on many ] issues, including Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender rights, (]). In 1987, he publicly ] as ].<ref>{{citation |title=Representative Frank Discloses He Is Homosexual
|date=], ] |accessdate=] |url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4DE163AF932A05756C0A961948260 |periodical=] }}</ref> He said in a 1996 interview: "I'm used to being in the minority. I'm a ] gay Jew. I've never felt, automatically, a member of any majority." In 1995, then-Republican ] ] famously referred to Frank as "Barney ]" in a press interview. Armey apologized and said it was "a slip of the tongue". Frank did not accept Armey's explanation, saying "I turned to my own expert, my mother, who reports that in 59 years of marriage, no one ever introduced her as Elsie Fag."<ref>{{Citation| last =Rich| first =Frank| author-link =Frank Rich | title =Journal; Closet Clout | newspaper =]| date= February 2, 1995| url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE6DF113AF931A35751C0A963958260}}</ref>


====Scandal====
Through the 1990 Immigration Act, Frank was a motor force in removing the restrictions on the immigration of homosexuals which had been explicitly prohibited by early immigration law.<ref>http://www.out4immigration.org/immigration/page.html?&mimid=N3DE98KBUMQ39M4WNKSS16LKM7MD3C0A&cid=1136</ref>
In 1998, Frank founded the ], the national ], ], ], and ] (]) Democratic organization. In May 2007, Frank was one of two openly gay members of Congress, along with ] of Wisconsin.


In 1985, Frank was still publicly ]. That year he hired Steve Gobie, a ], for sex, and they became "more friends than sexual partners."<ref name="mayflower" /> Frank housed Gobie and hired him with personal funds as an aide, housekeeper and driver and paid for his attorney and court-ordered psychiatrist.<ref name="mayflower" />
Frank is known for his witty, self-deprecating sense of humor. He once famously quipped that he was unable to complete his review of the ] detailing President ]'s relationship with ], complaining that it was "too much reading about heterosexual sex".<ref>{{cite web | title =Frank Part of Starr Review| publisher =]| date= 1998-09-09| url =http://www.planetout.com/news/article-print.html?1998/09/09/5 | accessdate = 2007-10-25}}</ref> In 2004 and again in 2006, a survey of Capitol Hill staffers published in '']'' gave Frank the title of the "brainiest", "funniest", and "most eloquent" member of the House.<ref> , 01 September 2006. Retrieved November 29, 2006.</ref>


In 1987, Frank evicted Gobie after being advised by his landlord that Gobie kept escorting despite the support and was doing so in the residence.<ref name="mayflower">{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/scandal/gobie2.htm|title=TV Movie Led to Prostitute's Disclosures|first=Bill|last=Dedman|date=August 27, 1989|newspaper=The Washington Post|author-link=Bill Dedman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19961225013122/https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/local/longterm/tours/scandal/gobie2.htm|archive-date=December 25, 1996|url-status=live|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref><ref name="Skeleton">{{cite magazine |url=https://time.com/vault/issue/1989-09-25/page/24/ |title=A Skeleton in Barney's Closet |first=Margaret |last=Carlson |date=September 25, 1989 |magazine=]|volume=134|issue=13|page=24|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref> Later that year, Gobie's friends persuaded him that he had a gay male version of '']'', a TV movie about an escort service.<ref name="mayflower" /> In 1989, Gobie tried to initiate a bidding war for the story between ] (Channel 9), '']'', and '']''.<ref name="mayflower" /> He then gave the story to ''The Washington Times'' for nothing, in hopes of getting a book contract.<ref name="Skeleton" />
Frank was accused by Rep. ] (R-]) of having a "radical ]" <ref>http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/01/12/090112fa_fact_toobin?currentPage=9</ref> and responded "I do have things I would like to see adopted on behalf of ] people: they include the ]; the ] to defend our country; and the ]. I acknowledge that this is an agenda, but I do not think that any self-respecting radical in history would have considered advocating people's rights to get married, join the army, and earn a living as a terribly inspiring revolutionary platform."<ref> </ref>


Amid calls for an investigation, Frank asked the ] to investigate his relationship "in order to ensure that the public record is clear."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/29/us/rep-frank-asks-for-full-inquiry-by-ethics-panel.html|title=Rep. Frank Asks For Full Inquiry By Ethics Panel|author=Oreskes, Michael|work=The New York Times|date=August 29, 1989|url-access=limited|access-date=July 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508131447/https://www.nytimes.com/1989/08/29/us/rep-frank-asks-for-full-inquiry-by-ethics-panel.html|archive-date=May 8, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> The Committee found no evidence that Frank had known of or been involved in the alleged illegal activity and dismissed all Gobie's more scandalous claims; they recommended a reprimand for Frank using his congressional office to fix 33 of Gobie's parking tickets and for misstatements of fact in a memorandum relating to Gobie's criminal probation record.<ref>Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, Page 37 -"In numerous instances where an assertion made by Mr. Gobie (either publicly or during his Committee deposition) was investigated for accuracy, the assertion was contradicted by third-party sworn testimony or other evidence of Mr. Gobie himself."</ref> The House voted 408–18 to reprimand Frank.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1990/roll271.xml |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 271 |publisher=]|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/07/27/frank-reprimanded-for-aiding-prostitute/|title=Frank Reprimanded for Aiding Prostitute|last=Povich|first=Elaine S.|work=Chicago Tribune|location=Chicago, Illinois|date=July 27, 1990|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111205201113/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1990-07-27/news/9003030287_1_stephen-gobie-male-prostitute-reprimand|archive-date=December 5, 2011|url-status=dead|url-access=limited|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>
Frank's stance on ] gay Republicans has become well publicized. The "Frank Rule" holds it acceptable to expose a ] person who uses their power, position, or notoriety to hurt ] people.<ref></ref> The issue became relevant during the ] of 2006, during which Frank clarified his position on ]'s '']'' - "I think there's a right to privacy. But the right to privacy should not be a right to hypocrisy. And people who want to demonize other people shouldn't then be able to go home and close the door and do it themselves."<ref>{{cite web| title = "Episode Guide - episode 86"| publisher = ]| date = October 20, 2006 | url = http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/episode/2006_10_20_ep86.html| accessdate = 2008-02-26}}</ref></blockquote>


The attempts to ] and expel Frank were led by Republican ].<ref>{{cite news |title=What to do about Barney Frank // Congress faces nasty confrontation on handling sexual misconduct |work=Austin American Statesman |location=Austin, Texas |date=October 17, 1989 |page=A.8 |author1=Evans, Rowland |author2=Novak, Robert }}</ref><ref>'']'' (2009), Kirby Dick, writer and director; Amy Ziering, producer; Douglas Blush and Matthew Clarke, editors; Chain Camera Pictures; Magnolia Pictures, distributor.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.salon.com/2009/05/07/kirby_dick/ |title=Beyond the Multiplex: Behind Washington's closet door |author=O'Hehir, Andrew |work=] |date=May 7, 2009}}</ref> Eventually, Frank would criticize Craig for hypocrisy after Craig's own ] for lewd conduct in a public restroom.<ref>{{cite web|last=Espo|first=David|title=GOP senators say Craig should resign|url=http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070829/ap_on_go_co/craig_arrest|agency=Associated Press|via=Yahoo News|date=August 29, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070907165735/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070829/ap_on_go_co/craig_arrest|archive-date=September 7, 2007|access-date=July 20, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite the controversy, Frank won re-election in 1990 with 66 percent of the vote, and by larger margins until the ] when his victory margin went down to eleven points.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/11/sean_bielat_sore_loser.html|author=Lane, Charles|date=November 3, 2010|title=Sean Bielat, sore loser|work=PostPartisan|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112032844/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2010/11/sean_bielat_sore_loser.html|archive-date=January 12, 2012|url-status=dead|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref>
====Medical marijuana====
In Congress, Frank is an ardent supporter of ]. He was the author of the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act (H.R. 2592), an attempt to stop federal government from intervening with states' medical marijuana laws.<ref></ref> Frank consistently voted for the Hinchey-Rohrabacher amendment, annually proposed by ] (R-]) and ] (D-]), that would prohibit the ] from prosecuting medical marijuana patients.<ref></ref> As of March 2008, he is trying to pass the ] (HR 5843), which would decriminalize small amounts of the drug.<ref>NJ.com, </ref>


In 2003, a documentary film about Barney Frank entitled ''Let's Get Frank'' was released. The documentary recounted Barney Frank's struggle coming out in public and political life as a prominent gay man, the height of which was his reprimand following the Gobie scandal, and documented Frank's dedicated defense of ] during his impeachment trial in January and February 1999.<ref name="Eisner 2004">{{cite web|last=Eisner|first=Ken|url=https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/let-s-get-frank-1200529955/|title=Let's Get Frank|work=Variety|date=October 26, 2004|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref> At the time of its release, ''Let's Get Frank'' received mixed reviews, some celebrating the film, as Ken Eisner did in ''Variety'',<ref name="Eisner 2004"/> and others struggling with Everly's distinct style and the dual telling of Frank's own personal story along with that of the ] through Frank's eyes, as Ed Halter did in ''The Village Voice''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Halter|first=Ed|url=https://www.villagevoice.com/2004/07/06/barney-rumble-superficial-doc-revisits-clintons-gay-90s/|title=Barney Rumble: Superficial Doc Revisits Clinton's Gay '90s|work=The Village Voice|date=July 12, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040722051034/http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0428/halter1.php|archive-date=July 22, 2004|access-date=July 20, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> This work has since been included in the film canon, and is now considered to be a classic.<ref></ref><ref></ref>
Frank commenting on legislation to remove federal criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use stated "In a ] a large degree of human activity is none of the government's business. We should make criminal what's going to hurt other people and other than that we should leave it to people to make their own choices."<ref> July 30, 2008 interview.</ref>


====Online gambling rights==== ====Public image====
"Mr. Frank has earned a reputation during his 28 years in Congress as a sharp-tongued and quick-witted debater," summarized ''The New York Times'' in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/barney_frank/index.html |title=Barney Frank |work=The New York Times |date=October 9, 2008 |access-date=April 23, 2010 |first=Cyrus |last=Sanati |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329182118/http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/f/barney_frank/index.html |archive-date=March 29, 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In one quip, he said he was unable to complete his review of the ] detailing President ]'s relationship with ], complaining that it was "too much reading about ] sex".<ref>{{cite web|title=Frank Part of Starr Review |publisher=] |date=September 9, 1998 |url=http://www.planetout.com/news/article-print.html?1998/09/09/5 |access-date=October 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050129132007/http://www.planetout.com/news/article-print.html?1998/09/09/5 |archive-date=January 29, 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2004 and again in 2006, a survey of Capitol Hill staffers published in '']'' gave Frank the title of the "brainiest", "funniest", and "most eloquent" member of the House.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2006/09/01/best-and-worst-of-congress/ |title=Best and Worst of Congress |work=] |date=September 1, 2006 |access-date=July 20, 2024| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061110170209/http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/mediapolitics/1666.html| archive-date= November 10, 2006 | url-status= dead}}</ref> In 2008, the same survey named him "brainiest", and runner up for "workhorse", and "most eloquent";<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/people/capitalcomment/9097.html|title=Washingtonian's Best & Worst of Congress|work=]|date=August 25, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901033638/http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/people/capitalcomment/9097.html|archive-date=September 1, 2008|access-date=July 20, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> in 2010, he was named "brainiest", "workhorse", and "funniest".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonian.com/print/articles/6/0/16736.html|title=2010 Best & Worst of Congress|work=]|date=September 13, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100919041126/http://www.washingtonian.com/print/articles/6/0/16736.html|archive-date=September 19, 2010|access-date=July 20, 2024|url-status=dead}}</ref> He is also widely considered to have been, during his tenure, one of the most powerful or smart members of Congress.<ref name="out-2009">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410144356/http://www.out.com/power50/covers.asp?category=1.%20Barney%20Frank |archive-date=April 10, 2009 |url=http://www.out.com/power50/covers.asp?category=1.%20Barney%20Frank |title=3rd Annual Power 50: 1. Barney Frank |work=] |date=April 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="60minutes-2008">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/barney-frank-on-bailouts-welfare/|title=Barney Frank on Bailouts, Welfare|work=]|publisher=CBS News|date=December 14, 2008|quote=Barney Frank has been called the "smartest guy in Congress"...|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081218082117/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/12/11/60minutes/main4663945.shtml|archive-date=December 18, 2008|url-status=dead|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/washington/13barneybox.html|title=A Way With Words |work=The New York Times |date=May 13, 2008 |access-date=July 20, 2024| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090424144301/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/washington/13barneybox.html| archive-date= April 24, 2009 | url-status= live}}</ref> Democratic speech writer—and later U.S. representative for New Jersey—], in his book ''Ripples of Hope: Great American Civil Rights Speeches'', describes Frank as "one of the brightest and most energetic defenders of civil rights issues."<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/ripplesofhopegre00gott |url-access=registration |title=Ripples of Hope: Great American Civil Rights Speeches |author=Josh Gottheimer |isbn=0-465-02752-0 |year=2003 |publisher=Basic Civitas Books |location=New York |page=|author-link=Josh Gottheimer }}</ref>
Frank has also partnered with ] in support of online gambling rights. In 2006, both strongly opposed H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, and H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.<ref></ref><ref></ref> To restore online gambling rights, in 2007 Frank sponsored H.R. 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act.<ref></ref> This bill would have established licensing and regulation of online gaming sites. It provided for age verification and protections for compulsive gamblers. In 2008, he and Paul introduced H.R. 5767, the Payment Systems Protection Act, a bill that sought to place a moratorium on enforcement of the ] while the ] and the ] defined "unlawful Internet gambling". As a result of these efforts, Frank (who does not gamble) has become a hero to ] players and online gamblers, including many Republicans.<ref>{{Citation| last = Viser| first = Matt| title = Unlikely ace for online gambling| newspaper = ]| date = July 13, 2008| url = http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/07/13/unlikely_ace_for_online_gambling/?page=1}}</ref>


====Free speech==== ====Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac====
Frank was scrutinized for campaign contributions from ] and ]. ] reported in 2009 that Frank received over $42,000 in campaign contributions from the two organizations since 1989.<ref>{{cite web|last=Meyer|first=Lindsay Renick|title=Barney Frank Pushes for Regulation Despite Financial Industry Funds|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2009/11/barney-frank-pushes-for-regula/|publisher=OpenSecrets|date=November 18, 2009|access-date=July 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122170724/http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2009/11/barney-frank-pushes-for-regula.html|archive-date=November 22, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Fannie Mae also made grants in 1994 and 2001 of $75,000 to a charity cofounded by Frank's mother.<ref name="Morgenson and Rosner 69-70"/> ], political editor of ], claimed the donations from Fannie and Freddie influenced his support of their lending programs, and said that Frank did not play a strong enough role in reforming the institutions in the years leading up to the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/lawmaker-accused-of-fannie-mae-conflict-of-interest |title=Lawmaker Accused of Fannie Mae Conflict of Interest |publisher=Fox News |author=Sammon, Bill |date=October 3, 2008 |access-date=July 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005081804/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C432501%2C00.html |archive-date=October 5, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> In their 2011 book ''Reckless Endangerment'', ''New York Times'' business reporter ] and co-author Josh Rosner called Frank a "major recipient of Fannie Mae's largesse, albeit indirectly" and "a perpetual protector of Fannie."<ref name="Morgenson Rosner 68-69">{{cite book|last1=Morgenson|first1=Gretchen|last2=Rosner|first2=Joshua|title=Reckless Endangerment: How Outsized Ambition, Greed, and Corruption Led to Economic Armageddon|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FwUW2yuJzW0C|year=2011|place=New York|publisher=Times Books|pages=68–69|isbn=978-0-8050-9120-5}}</ref>
In 2006, Frank was one of only three Representatives to oppose the ], which restricted protests (notably those of ]' ]) at soldiers' funerals. He opposed the bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate, on ] and ] grounds. Frank said of the vote, "I think it’s very likely to be found unconstitutional. It’s true that when you defend civil liberties you are typically defending people who do obnoxious things... You play into their hand when you let them provoke you into overdoing it. I don’t want these thugs to claim America is hypocritical."<ref>{{cite web| author=Anna Margolis, Anna | work= HubPolitics.com | url=http://www.hubpolitics.com/archives/000572.php | title=Rep. Frank Votes Against "Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act" | date=May 11, 2006 | accessdate = 2006-11-29}}</ref>


Additionally, in 1991, Fannie Mae hired Herb Moses, Frank's domestic partner, to a managerial position following a recommendation by Frank. While with Fannie Mae from 1991 to 1998, Moses oversaw projects "relaxing Fannie Mae's restrictions on home improvement loans and small farm mortgages", wrote Morgenson and Rosner.<ref name="Morgenson Rosner 68-69"/> During a 1991 hearing of the House Banking subcommittee on housing and community development, Frank objected to a proposal by ] director ] to make "safety and soundness" the primary objective for Fannie Mae, aggressively enough that subcommittee chair ] needed to intervene to allow Reischauer a chance to speak.<ref name="Morgenson and Rosner 69-70">Morgenson and Rosner 2011, pp. 69-70.</ref>
====Abortion====
In 2006, a Fannie Mae representative stated in SEC filings that they "did not participate in large amounts of these non-traditional mortgages in 2004 and 2005."<ref>SEC filing, Fannie Mae, Form 10-K, 2006. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630044827/http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Fannie_Mae_(FNMA)/Filing/10-K/2006/Form_10-K/D43015#114 |date=June 30, 2015 }}, </ref> In response to criticism, Frank said, "In 2004, it was Bush who started to push Fannie and Freddie into subprime mortgages, because they were boasting about how they were expanding homeownership for low-income people. And I said at the time, 'Hey—(a) this is going to jeopardize their profitability, but (b) it's going to put people in homes they can't afford, and they're gonna lose them.'"<ref name="Toobin" />
Frank has a 100% rating from ]. <ref>http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/choice-action-center/in-congress/congressional-record-on-choice/barneyfrank.html</ref> He voted against the ]<ref>http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2003/roll530.xml</ref>, against the ]<ref>http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2004/roll031.xml</ref> and against the criminalization of the transportation of minors across state lines by non-family members to circumvent local abortion laws.<ref>http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank.htm</ref>
In 2009 Frank responded to what he called "wholly inaccurate efforts by Republicans to blame Democrats, and in particular" for the ], which is linked to the ].<ref name="FSATRA" /> He outlined his efforts to reform these institutions and add regulations, but met resistance from Republicans, with the main exception being a bill with Republican ] that died because of opposition from President Bush.<ref name="FSATRA">{{cite web
|url=http://democrats.financialservices.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=465
|title=Frank Seeks Antidote to Republican Amnesia
|publisher=Committee on Financial Services
|date=March 12, 2009
|access-date=May 18, 2012
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915080550/http://democrats.financialservices.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=465
|archive-date=September 15, 2012
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The 2005 bill included Frank objectives, which were to impose tighter regulation of Fannie and Freddie and new funds for rental housing. Frank and Mike Oxley achieved broad bipartisan support for the bill in the Financial Services Committee, and it passed the House. But the Senate never voted on the measure, in part because President Bush was likely to veto it. "If it had passed, that would have been one of the ways we could have reined in the bowling ball going downhill called housing," Oxley told Frank. In an op-ed piece in ''The Wall Street Journal'', ], a former economic adviser to President George W. Bush, wrote that Frank "is the only politician I know who has argued that we needed tighter rules that intentionally produce fewer homeowners and more renters."<ref name="Toobin" /> Once control shifted to the Democrats, Frank was able to help guide both the Federal Housing Reform Act (H.R. 1427) and the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act (H.R. 3915) to passage in 2007.<ref name="FSATRA" /> Frank also said that the Republican-led ] of 1999, which repealed part of the ] of 1933 and removed the wall between commercial and investment banks, contributed to the financial meltdown.<ref name="FSATRA" /> Frank stated further that "during twelve years of Republican rule no reform was adopted regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In 2007, a few months after I became the chairman, the House passed a strong reform bill; we sought to get the administration's approval to include it in the economic stimulus legislation in January 2008; and finally got it passed and onto ]'s desk in July 2008. Moreover, "we were able to adopt it in nineteen months, and we could have done it much quicker if the administration had cooperated."{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}


====Subprime mortgage crisis====
===House Financial Services Committee===
As former chairman of the ], beginning in 2007, Frank was "at the center of power".<ref name="Advocate">{{cite news |last=Gallagher |first=John |title=Politics: A Broader Bully Pulpit: As Congress grapples with solutions for a faltering economy, Barney Frank sits at the center of power |work=] |date=September 9, 2008 |page=24}}</ref> Frank has been a critic of aspects of the ] system, partnering with some Republicans in opposition to some policies.<ref name="nytimesmagazine">{{cite news |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/magazine/22Paul-t.html |title=The Antiwar, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Drug-Enforcement-Administration, Anti-Medicare Candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul |author=Caldwell, Christopher |work=The New York Times |date=July 22, 2007 |access-date=July 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307154508/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/magazine/22Paul-t.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=March 7, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Frank says that he and Republican Congressman ] "first bonded because we were both conspicuous nonworshipers at the Temple of the Fed and of the High Priest ]."<ref name="nytimesmagazine" />


Frank has been involved in mortgage foreclosure bailout issues.<ref name="Loan Mod">{{cite news |first=Louise |last=Story |title=Lawmakers Debate Pitfalls of Loan Modification |work=The New York Times |date=November 13, 2008 |page=B3 |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/business/economy/13mortgage.html |access-date=July 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424164654/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/business/economy/13mortgage.html |archive-date=April 24, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2008 Frank supported passage of the American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act, intended to protect thousands of homeowners from ].<ref name="Advocate" /> This law, {{USBill|110|H.R.|3221}}, is considered one of the most important and complex issues on which he worked.<ref name="Advocate" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://financialservices.house.gov/FHA.html |title=Information about the American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act |publisher=] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708001511/http://financialservices.house.gov/FHA.html |archive-date=July 8, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In an August 2007 op-ed piece in '']'', Frank wrote, "In the debate between those who believe in essentially ] and others who hold that ] diminishes market excesses without inhibiting their basic function, the ] unfortunately provides ammunition for the latter view."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Frank |first=Barney |date=August 20, 2007 |title=A (sub)prime argument for more regulation |newspaper=Financial Times |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a6eeecbe-4eb5-11dc-85e7-0000779fd2ac.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20150507020333/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a6eeecbe-4eb5-11dc-85e7-0000779fd2ac.html%23axzz3ZPk9DCBT |archive-date=May 7, 2015 |url-access=subscription |url-status=dead| access-date=July 20, 2024 }}</ref> Frank was also instrumental in the passage of {{USBill|110|H.R.|5244}}, the ] Act of 2008, a measure that drew praise from editorial boards and consumer advocates.<ref>{{Cite news|date=March 29, 2008|title=Plastic Card Tricks|newspaper=]|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/opinion/29sat3.html|access-date=July 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423162026/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/29/opinion/29sat3.html|archive-date=April 23, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=May 3, 2008|title=The Fed Aims at Credit Cards|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/opinion/03sat2.html|access-date=July 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424164723/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/03/opinion/03sat2.html|archive-date=April 24, 2009|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |access-date=August 22, 2008 |title=Press release on the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights |date=July 31, 2008 |publisher=House Financial Services Committee |url=http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/financialsvcs_dem/press0731083.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828035610/http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/financialsvcs_dem/press0731083.shtml |archive-date=August 28, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2007. Frank co-sponsored legislation to reform the Section 202 refinancing program, which is for affordable housing for the elderly, and Section 811 disabled programs.<ref></ref> Frank has been a chief advocate of the National Housing Trust Fund,<ref name="Toobin" /> which was created as part of the ] and was the first affordable housing program to be enacted by the Congress since 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nhtf.org/template/page.cfm?id=40 |title=National Housing Trust Fund |publisher=Nhtf.org |access-date=March 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120228232737/http://www.nhtf.org/template/page.cfm?id=40 |archive-date=February 28, 2012}}</ref>
In September 2003, Frank, then the ranking Democrat on the Republican-led Financial Services Committee, opposed Bush administration proposals for transferring oversight of ] and ] by creating an independent agency to supervise.


During the ], Frank was characterized as "a key deal-maker, an unlikely bridge between his party's left-wing base and ... ] conservatives" in the Bush administration.<ref name="ALWBB">{{Cite news|last=Herszenhorn|first=David M.|date=May 13, 2008|title=A Liberal Wit Builds Bridges to the G.O.P|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/washington/13barney.html|page=A1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424164707/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/13/washington/13barney.html?pagewanted=all|archive-date=April 24, 2009|url-status=live|access-date=July 20, 2024}}</ref> ], the ] for the Bush administration, said he enjoyed Frank's penchant for brokering deals, "he is looking to get things done and make a difference, he focuses on areas of agreement and tries to build on those."<ref name="ALWBB" />
"The administration's proposal, which was endorsed in large part ... by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, would not repeal the significant government subsidies ... does not alter the implicit guarantee that Washington will bail the companies out ... Nor would it remove the companies' exemptions from taxes and antifraud provisions of federal securities laws." The proposal would have moved oversight from Congress and the ] to the new agency. Frank stated in 2003, "The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing."<ref name="query.nytimes.com">{{cite web|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123BF932A2575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |title=New Agency Proposed to Oversee Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae - New York Times |publisher=Query.nytimes.com |author=Stephen Labaton |date=Published: September 11, 2003 |accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref> Frank stated that the bill would potentially " the bargaining power of poorer families and their ability to get ]".<ref name="query.nytimes.com"/>


'']'' noted that the ]'s crucial role in the nation's housing market, providing low-down-payment mortgages during the crisis of 2007–2010 when no mortgages would otherwise have been available, "helped avert full-scale disaster" by helping people purchase or refinance homes and thereby putting a floor under falling home prices. However, due to the tighter flow of credit from the banks, total FHA loans in 2009 were four times that of 2006, raising concern that year that if the economy were to dip back into recession, more Fed funds could be required to keep those loans afloat. Frank's response was that the additional defaults—2.2% more of the total portfolio in 2009 than the year before—were worth the economic stabilization of the broader policy, noting "It was an effort to keep prices from falling too fast." In that context, he opined, "I don't think it's a bad thing that the bad loans occurred." In fact, the unprecedented number of loans made since 2008 were noted to be performing far better than those in the prior two years.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/business/09fha.html |title=F.H.A. Problems Raising Concern of Policy Makers |work=The New York Times |date=October 9, 2009 |first1=David |last1=Streitfeld |first2=Louise |last2=Story |access-date=July 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710075934/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/09/business/09fha.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=July 10, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>
====Chair of the House Financial Services Committee====
]
As ] of the ], beginning in 2007, Frank "sits at the center of power".<ref name=Advocate>John Gallagher, "Politics: A Broader Bully Pulpit: As Congress grapples with solutions for a faltering economy, Barney Frank sits at the center of power," '']'', September 9, 2008, p. 24.</ref> Frank has been a critic of aspects of the ] system, partnering with some Republicans in opposition to some policies.<ref name="nytimesmagazine">{{cite web |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/magazine/22Paul-t.html?ex=1186459200&en=bf8dec405a435ea7&ei=5070|title= The Antiwar, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Drug-Enforcement-Administration, Anti-Medicare Candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul|accessdate=2007-08-05 |author= Caldwell, Christopher|publisher= ''New York Times''|date= 2007-07-22}}</ref> Frank says that he and Republican Congressman ] "first bonded because we were both conspicuous nonworshipers at the Temple of the Fed and of the High Priest ].”<ref name="nytimesmagazine"/>


==Political positions and votes==
Frank has been involved in mortgage foreclosure bailout issues.<ref name="Loan Mod">Louise Story, "Lawmakers Debate Pitfalls of Loan Modification," ''New York Times'', November 13, 2008, p. B3, found at .</ref> In 2008 Frank supported passage of the ] intended to protect thousands of homeowners from ].<ref name=Advocate /> This law, {{USBill|110|H.R.|3221}}, was one of the most important and complex issues on which he worked.<ref name=Advocate /><ref></ref> Frank in an August 2007 op-ed piece in '']'' wrote "In the debate between those who believe in essentially ] and others who hold that ] diminishes market excesses without inhibiting their basic function, the ] unfortunately provides ammunition for the latter view."<ref> </ref>
]


===Abortion===
Frank was also instrumental in the passage of {{USBill|110|H.R.|5244}}, the ] Act of 2008, a measure that drew praise from editorial boards and consumer advocates.<ref>, New York Times editorial, March 29, 2008</ref><ref> New York Times editorial, May 3, 2008</ref><ref>. Accessed August 22, 2008.</ref>
In 2009 Frank had a 100% rating from ], indicating a ] voting record.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/us-government/congressional-records/congressional-record-on-choice-2009.pdf |title=2009 Congressional Record on Choice |publisher=NARAL |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821012207/http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/government-and-you/us-government/congressional-records/congressional-record-on-choice-2009.pdf |archive-date=August 21, 2010 }}</ref> He voted against the ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2003/roll530.xml |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 530 (Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act) |date=October 2, 2003 |publisher=House of Representatives}}</ref> against the ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2004/roll031.xml |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 31 (Unborn Victims of Violence Act) |date=February 26, 2004 |publisher=House of Representatives}}</ref> and against restrictions on the transportation of minors across state lines by non-family members to circumvent local abortion laws. In 1993 Frank co-sponsored the "Freedom of Choice Act" (H.R.25) (1993-H25) to "protect the reproductive rights of women".<ref name="foa" /><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank.htm |publisher=] |title=Barney Frank on Abortion}}</ref> In 2006, he co-sponsored the "Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act" (S.3945) (06-S3945), a bill for "emergency contraception for rape victims".<ref name="foa">{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Abortion |publisher=] |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Abortion.htm}}</ref> In 2007 he co-sponsored the "Compassionate Care for Servicewomen Act" (S.1800 & HR.2064) (07-HR2064) to "providing emergency contraception at military facilities"; the "Prevention First Act" (S.21&H.R.463 2009-S21) to "expand access to preventive health care services that help reduce ], reduce abortions, and improve access to women's health care".<ref name="foa" />


===Civil rights===
In 2007 Frank co-sponsored legislation to reform the Section 202 refinancing program, which is for affordable housing for the elderly, and Section 811 disabled programs.{{fact|date=December 2008}} Frank has been a supporter and chief advocate of H.R. 3221, the ], which is the first affordable housing program to be enacted by the Congress since 1990.{{fact|date=December 2008}}====Chair of the House Financial Services Committee====
In 1987, Frank was the Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations in the ]. In this position, he was one of the staunchest supporters of redress and reparations for ] during ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ncrr-la.org/NCRR_archives/welcome_intro.htm |title=Intro |publisher=NCRR – Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fresnocountybar.org/files/Ikeda-Japanese_Internment-Redress.doc |title=The Japanese-American Story of Internment and Redress |publisher=Fresno County Bar Association |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726065359/http://www.fresnocountybar.org/files/Ikeda-Japanese_Internment-Redress.doc |archive-date=July 26, 2011 }}</ref> In 2001, Frank co-sponsored an ] to the ] to apply ] based on ].<ref name="FCvl">{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Civil Rights |publisher=] |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Civil_Rights.htm}}</ref> In 2002 he co-sponsored the "Federal Agency Protection of Privacy Act" (H.R.4561) to require a "Privacy Impact Statement" on new federal rules.<ref name="FCvl" /> In 2002 he was scored at 93% by the ] on civil rights issues indicating a pro-] voting record.<ref name="FCvl" />
]
As ] of the ], beginning in 2007, Frank "sits at the center of power".<ref name=Advocate>John Gallagher, "Politics: A Broader Bully Pulpit: As Congress grapples with solutions for a faltering economy, Barney Frank sits at the center of power," '']'', September 9, 2008, p. 24.</ref> Frank has been a critic of aspects of the ] system, partnering with some Republicans in opposition to some policies.<ref name="nytimesmagazine">{{cite web |url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/22/magazine/22Paul-t.html?ex=1186459200&en=bf8dec405a435ea7&ei=5070|title= The Antiwar, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Drug-Enforcement-Administration, Anti-Medicare Candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul|accessdate=2007-08-05 |author= Caldwell, Christopher|publisher= ''New York Times''|date= 2007-07-22}}</ref> Frank says that he and Republican Congressman ] "first bonded because we were both conspicuous nonworshipers at the Temple of the Fed and of the High Priest ].”<ref name="nytimesmagazine"/>


In 2006, Frank was one of three Representatives to oppose the ], which restricted protests (notably those of ]' ]) at soldiers' funerals. He opposed the bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate, on ] and ] grounds. Frank said of the vote, "I think it's very likely to be found unconstitutional. It's true that when you defend civil liberties you are typically defending people who do obnoxious things ... You play into their hand when you let them provoke you into overdoing it. I don't want these thugs to claim America is hypocritical."<ref>{{cite web|author=Anna Margolis, Anna |work=HubPolitics.com |url=http://www.hubpolitics.com/archives/000572.php |title=Rep. Frank Votes Against "Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act" |date=May 11, 2006 |access-date=November 29, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108125228/http://www.hubpolitics.com/archives/000572.php |archive-date=November 8, 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The ] scored him at 100% in 2006 indicating a pro-] stance.<ref name="FCvl" />
Frank has been involved in mortgage foreclosure bailout issues.<ref name="Loan Mod">Louise Story, "Lawmakers Debate Pitfalls of Loan Modification," ''New York Times'', November 13, 2008, p. B3, found at .</ref> In 2008 Frank supported passage of the ] intended to protect thousands of homeowners from ].<ref name=Advocate /> This law, {{USBill|110|H.R.|3221}}, was one of the most important and complex issues on which he worked.<ref name=Advocate /><ref></ref> Frank in an August 2007 op-ed piece in '']'' wrote "In the debate between those who believe in essentially ] and others who hold that ] diminishes market excesses without inhibiting their basic function, the ] unfortunately provides ammunition for the latter view."<ref> </ref>


In 2007, Frank co-sponsored the "Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act" (S.2521/H.R.4838) to "provide benefits to ] of Federal employees".<ref name="FCvl" /> That same year, he co-sponsored the "]" (S.J.RES.10/H.J.RES.40) to "strengthen the ongoing efforts of women across the country to obtain equal treatment."<ref name="FCvl" /> In 2009, he signed bills recognizing the 40th anniversary of the ] and the 100th anniversary of the NAACP.<ref name="FCvl" />
Frank was also instrumental in the passage of {{USBill|110|H.R.|5244}}, the ] Act of 2008, a measure that drew praise from editorial boards and consumer advocates.<ref>, New York Times editorial, March 29, 2008</ref><ref> New York Times editorial, May 3, 2008</ref><ref>. Accessed August 22, 2008.</ref>


Frank has been outspoken on many ] issues, including lesbian, gay, ] and ] (]) ]. In 1987, he publicly ] as gay.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Representative Frank Discloses He Is Homosexual |date=May 31, 1987 |access-date=October 19, 2008 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/05/31/us/representative-frank-discloses-he-is-homosexual.html |periodical=]}}</ref> In 1990, Frank was instrumental in crafting the ], which restated the reasons for which a person could be denied entry into the country. The act did not include "] exclusion", reforming earlier immigration law which allowed persons to be excluded for a sexual deviance "afflict".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.out4immigration.org/immigration/page.html?&mimid=N3DE98KBUMQ39M4WNKSS16LKM7MD3C0A&cid=1136 |title=History of LGBT & Immigration |publisher=Out4Immigration |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304000448/http://www.out4immigration.org/immigration/page.html?&mimid=N3DE98KBUMQ39M4WNKSS16LKM7MD3C0A&cid=1136 |archive-date=March 4, 2009 }}</ref> He said in a 1996 interview: "I'm used to being in the minority. I'm a ] gay Jew. I've never felt, automatically, a member of any majority." In 1995, then-Republican ] ] famously referred to Frank as "Barney ]" in a press interview. Armey apologized and said it was "a slip of the tongue". Frank did not accept Armey's explanation, saying "I turned to my own expert, my mother, who reports that in 59 years of marriage, no one ever introduced her as Elsie Fag."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rich |first1=Frank |title=Journal; Closet Clout |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/02/opinion/journal-closet-clout.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 2, 1995 |page=23}}</ref> In 1998, Frank founded the national LGBT Democratic organization, ].
In 2007 Frank co-sponsored legislation to reform the Section 202 refinancing program, which is for affordable housing for the elderly, and Section 811 disabled programs.{{fact|date=December 2008}} Frank has been a supporter and chief advocate of H.R. 3221, the ], which is the first affordable housing program to be enacted by the Congress since 1990.{{fact|date=December 2008}}


In 2006, Frank and incoming ] ] were accused by Rep. ] (R-]) of having a "radical ]"; Frank responded "I do have things I would like to see adopted on behalf of LGBT people: they include the ]; the ] to defend our country; and the ].<ref name="Toobin">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/01/12/090112fa_fact_toobin |title=Barney's Great Adventure: The most outspoken man in the House gets some real power |author=Jeffrey Toobin |magazine=The New Yorker|date=5 January 2009 }}</ref><ref name="RFOTIOPWT" /> I acknowledge that this is an agenda, but I do not think that any self-respecting ] in history would have considered advocating people's rights to get married, join the army, and earn a living as a terribly inspiring ] platform."<ref name="RFOTIOPWT">{{cite web|title=News Release from Barney Frank |publisher=United States House of Representatives |date=March 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080801144133/http://www.house.gov/frank/antidiscriminationmarch2008.html |archive-date=August 1, 2008 |url=http://www.house.gov/frank/antidiscriminationmarch2008.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Frank's stance on ] gay Republicans has been called the "Frank Rule" whereby a ] person who uses her or his power, position, or notoriety to hurt ] people can be outed.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.laweekly.com/2004-09-23/news/the-outing/ |title=The outing: David Dreier and his straight hypocrisy |date=September 23, 2004 |author=Ireland, Doug |work=LA Weekly}}</ref> The issue became relevant during the ] of 2006, during which Frank clarified his position on ]'s '']'': "I think there's a ]. But the right to privacy should not be a right to ]. And people who want to demonize other people shouldn't then be able to go home and close the door and do it themselves."<ref>{{cite web|title=''Real Time with Bill Maher'': Episode Guide – episode 86 |publisher=] |date=October 20, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104121533/http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/episode/2006_10_20_ep86.html |archive-date=November 4, 2006 |url=http://www.hbo.com/billmaher/episode/2006_10_20_ep86.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Conservative groups have criticized Frank for campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac ($42,350 between 1989 and 2008). They further claim the donations influenced his support of their lending programs, and they have partially blamed Frank for not playing a stronger role in reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the years leading up to the ]. <ref>http://www.businessandmedia.org/printer/2008/20080924145932.aspx</ref><ref>http://americanfuturefund.com/2008/09/25/barney-frank-blocks-reform-attempts</ref> In 2003, Frank defended the two organizations, stating "These two entities -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac -- are not facing any kind of financial crisis... the more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing." <ref>http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E06E3D6123BF932A2575AC0A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all</ref> In addition, Frank's former partner, Herb Moses, was an executive at Fannie from 1991 to 1998, where Moses helped develop many of Fannie’s affordable housing and home improvement lending programs. In 1991, Frank pushed for reduced restrictions on two- and three-family home mortgages.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,432501,00.html |title=FOXNews.com - Lawmaker Accused of Fannie Mae Conflict of Interest - Politics &#124; Republican Party &#124; Democratic Party &#124; Political Spectrum |publisher=Foxnews.com |author=Bill Sammon |date=October 3, 2008 |accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref> Frank and Moses' relationship ended around the same time Moses left the company; Frank's support of Fannie and Freddie predated and continued past that relationship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080924145932.aspx |title=Media Mum on Barney Frank's Fannie Mae Love Connection |publisher=Businessandmedia.org |date= |accessdate=2008-10-05}}</ref>

In February 2009, Frank was one of three ] gay members of Congress, along with ] of ] and ] of ]. In April 2009, Frank was named in the LGBT magazine '']''{{'}}s "Annual Power 50 List", landing at the top spot.<ref name="out-2009" />

In 2006 the ] scored him at 100% indicating a pro-] stance.<ref name="FCvl" />

===Crime===
In 2000, Frank was rated at 89% by ], indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes.<ref name="FrOC">{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Crime |publisher=] |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Crime.htm}}</ref> He co-sponsored "Innocence Protection Act of 2001" (H.R. 912, S.486) to "reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed " and the "National Death Penalty Moratorium Act of 2001" (H.R.1038, S.233) to limit capital punishment until the ] reviewed the "fairness of the imposition of the death penalty".<ref name="FrOC" /> In 2001, he also co-sponsored the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" (01-HR1343) to "provide Federal assistance to States and local jurisdictions to prosecute ]."<ref name="FrOC" /> Frank co-sponsored the "Recidivism Reduction and Second Chance Act of 2007" to reduce ]. (this became Public Law No: 110-199).<ref name="FrOC" />

===Drugs===
In 2001, Frank authored the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act (H.R. 2592), an attempt to stop the federal government from preempting ].<ref>{{cite web|author=Frank, Barney |year=2002 |url=http://www.house.gov/frank/medmar2002.html |title=Frank Calls for Action on Medical Marijuana Legislation |publisher=United States House of Representatives |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090329134329/http://www.house.gov/frank/medmar2002.html |archive-date=March 29, 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He consistently voted for the bipartisan ], annually proposed by ] (D-]) and ] (R-]), to prohibit the ] from prosecuting individuals complying with state medical cannabis laws.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr1/n1_hinchey_ref.html |title=The Hinchey-Rohrabacher Amendment (2003–2006) |work=DrugScience.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180930234404/http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr1/n1_hinchey_ref.html |archive-date=September 30, 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In March 2008, he proposed the ] (HR 5843), which would have ], but which died in committee during the 110th Congress. On June 18, 2009, he re-introduced the bill as the ] (HR 2943).<ref>{{cite web |work=The Star-Ledger |url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2008/03/barney_frank_lets_decriminaliz.html |title=Barney Frank: Let's decriminalize marijuana |year=2008}}</ref> On June 23, 2011, Frank introduced the ] to remove marijuana from the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=Members Of Congress Introduce First Federal Measure Since 1937 To Legalize The Adult Use Of Marijuana -- Bipartisan Coalition Backs The 'Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2011' |url=https://norml.org/news/2011/06/23/members-of-congress-introduce-first-federal-measure-since-1937-to-legalize-the-adult-use-of-marijuana-bipartisan-coalition-backs-the-ending-federal-marijuana-prohibition-act-of-2011 |access-date=December 20, 2019 |work=NORML |date=June 23, 2011}}</ref> Commenting on legislation to remove federal criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, Frank stated "In a free society a large degree of human activity is none of the government's business. We should make criminal what's going to hurt other people and other than that we should leave it to people to make their own choices."<ref>{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0807/30/cnr.05.html |title=President Bush, Dems Spar Over Energy; 5.4 Magnitude Quake Rattles Los Angeles; Attacking Obama's 'Celebrity'; Rep. Barney Frank's Marijuana Bill (interview) |work=] |date=July 30, 2008}}</ref> In 2003, he was rated "A" by Vote Hemp, indicating a pro-hemp voting record.<ref name="fdr">{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Drugs |publisher=] |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Drugs.htm}}</ref> In 2006 he was rated "+30" by ], indicating a pro-drug-reform stance.<ref name="fdr" /> In 2007 he co-sponsored the "Drug Sentencing Reform & Kingpin Trafficking Act" ((S.1711) 07-S1711) to "target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine".<ref name="fdr" /> In 2008, Frank sponsored "Removing Impediments to Students Education" (RISE) ((H.R.5157) 08-HR5157) to allow rehabilitated drug offenders to get student loans.<ref name="fdr" />

In 2009 Frank signed the "Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention Act" (HR 179 2009-H179) to "use Federal funds for ]s for purposes of reducing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, including HIV and viral ]" and the ] (H.R.1866 2009-H1866) to "grant each state regulating authority for the growing and processing of industrial hemp."<ref name="fdr" />

===Economic issues===
Frank was a member of the Congressional Internet Caucus established in 1996 to "promoting growth and advancement of the Internet and advance the United States' world leadership in the digital world".<ref name="Ftech" /> In 2001, he co-sponsored the "Anti-Spamming Act" (01-HR718) to protect people and businesses from "unsolicited and unwanted electronic mail".<ref name="Ftech" />
In 2006, Frank voted for the "Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act" (Bill HR 5252 Amendment 987) to "establish "]" (non-tiered Internet)."<ref name="Ftech" /> In 2008, Frank voted against the "FISA Amendments Act" (Bill HR6304) which would give retroactive immunity for those involved in the ].<ref name="Ftech">{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Technology |publisher=] |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Technology.htm}}</ref> That same year, he co-sponsored overturning ] (S.J.RES.28&H.J.RES.79 2008-SJR28).<ref name="Ftech" />

===Environment===
In 1993, Frank co-sponsored "Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments" (H.R.3392) to regulate more contaminants under the ].<ref name="FOENV" /> In 2001, he co-sponsored the "National Forest Protection and Restoration Act" (H.R.1494) to "prohibiting commercial logging on Federal public lands".<ref name="FOENV">{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on the Environment |publisher=] |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Environment.htm}}</ref> In 2003, he was rated 95% by the ], indicating pro-environment votes.<ref name="FOENV" /> In 2007, he co-sponsored the "Great Cats and Rare Canids Act" (H.R.1464) to "provide financial resources and to foster international cooperation for promoting conservation of rare ] & ]".<ref name="FOENV" /> In the same year, he co-sponsored the "Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act" (S.261/H.R.137) to "strengthen prohibitions against ]".<ref name="FOENV" />

===Military===
In 1996 Frank co-sponsored the "Federal Law Enforcement Dependents Assistance Act" (H.R.4111. Became Public Law No: 104–238.) "to provide educational assistance to the dependents of Federal law enforcement officials who are killed or disabled in the performance of their duties."<ref name="hls" /> In 2001 Frank co-sponsored "the MX Missile Stand-Down Act" (01-HR2718) to take fifty ] off of high-alert status as well as the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act (01-HR948).<ref name="hls">{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Homeland Security |publisher=] |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Homeland_Security.htm}}</ref> As of December 2003, Frank had an 89% rating by ], indicating a pro-peace voting record.<ref name="hls" /> In 2005, he co-sponsored "Rail Security Act" (S.1379/H.R.153) (05-S1379) giving higher priority to rail transportation security.<ref name="hls" /> In 2008, he co-sponsored the "Veterans Suicide Study Act" ( (S.2899/H.R.4204) 08-S2899) designed to study and address suicides among veterans.<ref name="hls" /> Frank advocated for a 25-percent reduction in the overall ]. "The math is compelling: if we do not make reductions approximating 25 percent of the military budget starting fairly soon, it will be impossible to continue to fund an adequate level of domestic activity ... ," wrote Frank. He claimed that such a significant reduction would have no effect on the United States' ability to defend itself. "If," he said, "beginning one year from now, we were to cut military spending by 25 percent from its projected levels, we would still be immeasurably stronger than any combination of nations with whom we might be engaged."<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.thenation.com/article/cut-military-budget |title=Cut the Military Budget |access-date=February 15, 2009 |author=Frank, Barney |date=February 11, 2009 |journal=The Nation}}</ref> Frank supports having fewer ], but also supports a $3-billion ] that the Pentagon does not want.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/05/frank_wants_100.html |title=Frank wants $100b cut from defense spending |work=The Boston Globe |date=May 27, 2010 |author=Vellajo, Stephanie}}</ref> Frank told ]'s ] that he actually wanted to cut the entire F-35 program, but as long as military spending continued, he would fight for his district's share of it.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.msnbc.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111209004258/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/38118275#38118275 |url-status=live |archive-date=December 9, 2011 |title=Making cuts to fix the deficit |work=] |publisher=] |year=2010}}</ref>

===Online gambling===
Frank has partnered with ] in support of online gambling rights. In 2006, both strongly opposed H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, and H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04777: |title=Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4777 |date=September 22, 2006 |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-date=October 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018013459/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04777: |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04411: |title=Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 4411 |date=July 13, 2006 |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-date=November 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081125231725/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04411: |url-status=dead }}</ref> To restore online gambling rights, in 2007 Frank sponsored H.R. 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h2046: |title=Thomas (Library of Congress): HR 2046 |publisher=Thomas.loc.gov |access-date=December 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408124652/http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:h2046: |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> This bill would have established licensing and regulation of online gaming sites. It provided for age verification and protections for compulsive gamblers. In 2008, he and Paul introduced H.R. 5767, the Payment Systems Protection Act, a bill that sought to place a moratorium on enforcement of the ] while the ] and the ] defined "unlawful Internet gambling". As a result of these efforts, Frank (who does not gamble) has been praised by ] players and online gamblers, including many Republicans.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Viser |first=Matt |title=Unlikely ace for online gambling |newspaper=] |date=July 13, 2008 |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/07/13/unlikely_ace_for_online_gambling/?page=1}}</ref>

===Relations with Israel===
Frank has been a determined supporter of the ]. "The Israeli government has been a wholly democratic one from the beginning," he said in a lecture to students. "It is one of the freest democracies in the world".<ref>{{cite news|last=Chen|first=Daphne|title=Barney Frank gives speech on relationship between U.S. and Israel|url=http://www.dailycal.org/2012/02/24/barney-frank-gives-speech-on-relationship-between-u-s-and-israel|date=February 24, 2012|work=]}}</ref> He attributed the primary reason for Israel's long war to his belief that Palestinians are unwilling to make concessions.

In August 2009, a confidential memo written by the ] in Boston, ], was leaked to the Israeli media. In the memo, Tamir said that Israel's dealings with the ] on differences over ] were eroding ]. After Tamir was reprimanded by the ], Frank defended Tamir in a letter sent to Prime Minister ], in which Frank wrote: "I was sorry to learn that he (Tamir) is being criticized because of his accurate reporting of significant (negative) sentiment in the United States ... If the people who work for me did not give me the kind of straightforward, thoughtful analysis that the consul is providing, even if it wasn't the most welcome news, that failure — not the information — would cause me unhappiness."<ref>{{cite news|last=Kampeas|first=Ron|title=Frank defends Israeli diplomat|url=https://www.jta.org/2009/08/15/united-states/frank-defends-israeli-diplomat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817212841/http://jta.org/news/article/2009/08/15/1007267/frank-defends-tamir|date=August 15, 2009|archive-date=August 17, 2009|publisher=]}}</ref>

==Post-House career==
In the wake of the ] legislation at the start of 2013, Frank stated<ref>{{cite news|title=Barney Frank wants temporary Senate appointment|author=Sean Sullivan|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/01/04/barney-frank-wants-temporary-senate-appointment/|newspaper=]|date=January 4, 2013|access-date=January 30, 2013}}</ref> that he was interested in the interim appointment that Governor ] was expected to make to fill ]'s ] seat once the latter resigned<ref>{{Cite news|title=Mass. special election to replace Kerry likely June 25; primary April 30|author=Domenico Montanaro|url=http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/01/28/16740791-mass-special-election-to-replace-kerry-likely-june-25-primary-april-30?lite|publisher=firstread.nbcnews.com]|date=January 28, 2013|access-date=January 30, 2013}}</ref> to serve as ]. Frank had initially said he was not interested in the seat, but went on to change his mind, noting that "that deal now means that February, March, and April are going to be among the most important months in American financial history". He said he would not run in the special election that would be held to fill the seat for the remainder of Kerry's term.<ref>Orol, Ronald D. (January 4, 2013). . '']''. Retrieved January 4, 2013.</ref><ref>Seelye, Katharine Q., , New York ''Times'', January 30, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.</ref>

Frank joined the board of directors of the New York-based ] on June 17, 2015.<ref name="blogs.wsj.com">Ensign, Rachel Louise, , ''The Wall Street Journal'', June 17, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=This champion of financial reform just joined a bank's board|url=https://fortune.com/2015/06/18/barney-frank-bank-board/|access-date=March 8, 2021|website=Fortune|language=en}}</ref>

In 2018, Frank was featured on ]'s spoof comedy series '']'', discussing the ] and the ] with Baron Cohen's alter ego Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr. Frank eventually walked out of the interview.

On December 8, 2022, Frank, despite being retired from the U.S. Congress, was present on the floor of the House of Representatives when the ] was successfully passed.


==Personal life== ==Personal life==
Frank resides in a studio apartment complex in ]. His husband, Jim Ready, is a ] enthusiast whom Frank met during a gay political fundraiser in ].<ref name="Advocate2"/><ref>{{cite web |last=McLaughlin |first=Tim |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-barneyfrank-wedding/rep-barney-frank-weds-in-same-sex-marriage-idUSBRE86C0TH20120713 |title=Rep. Barney Frank to marry partner in same-sex ceremony |work=Reuters |date=July 13, 2012 |access-date=April 13, 2021}}</ref> On July 7, 2012, Frank married Ready at the Boston Marriott Newton in suburban ].<ref>{{cite news|last=McLaughlin|first=Tim|title=Congressman Barney Frank weds in same-sex marriage|date=July 8, 2012|url=http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCABRE86700820120708?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=603&sp=true|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120710225145/http://ca.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idCABRE86700820120708?feedType=RSS&feedName=domesticNews&rpc=603&sp=true|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 10, 2012|agency=Reuters Canada|access-date=July 8, 2012}}</ref> Frank's net worth was estimated by ] to be between $619,024 and $1,510,000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.opensecrets.org/pfds/CIDsummary.php?CID=N00000275&year=2010 |title=Personal Finances – Barney Frank (D-Mass), 2010 |work=OpenSecrets.org |publisher=]}}</ref> Frank chose not to participate in the ] system. He said he did not believe that he would live long enough after retirement to reap benefits over contributions, and that he was convinced that he would remain single and have no beneficiary.<ref>{{cite episode |title="The Gentleman's Time Has Expired" with Barney Frank |url=http://pineapple.fm/70-over-70-ep-21 |access-date=October 25, 2021 |year=2020 |series=70 Over 70 |time=37:50 }}</ref> His sister, ], served as a senior adviser for the ].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jan/02/hillaryclinton.usa |title=A Clinton operative plays operator |first=Sarah |last=Wildman |work=The Guardian|date=January 2, 2008}}</ref>
Frank resides in a studio apartment complex in ]. His boyfriend, Jim Ready, 39, is a ] enthusiast whom Frank met during a gay political fund raiser in ], where Ready still lives. <ref name=Advocate2>{{cite web|author=Benoit Denizet-Lewis, with photographs by Henry Leutwyler|url=http://www.advocate.com/issue_story_ektid67124.asp |title=Harrumph! Barney Frank is smiling. Really. (front cover, pages 56-61)|publisher='']''|date= 01-13-09|accessdate=2008-12-11}}</ref> His sister is ], who served as a senior adviser in ]'s 2008 presidential campaign.

===Religion===

{{quote box|quote=Subsequently, after leaving office, I half jokingly objected when Bill Maher, one of my favorite TV hosts, asked if I felt uncomfortable sitting next to a pot-smoking atheist on the set of his show. I replied that that there were two of us on that stage who fit those categories. The media reached the conclusion that I had come out as an atheist. In fact, I am not an atheist. I don't know enough to have any firm view on the subject, and it has never seemed important to me. I have had a life-long aversion to wrestling with questions that I know I can never answer. My tolerance for intellectual uncertainty is very low.{{sfn|Frank|2015|p=218}}|align=right|width=30%}}

On August 3, 2013, Frank expressed sympathy with the host's ] on the television program '']''.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kramnick |first1=Isaac |last2=Moore |first2=R. Laurence |title=Is Atheism the Last Unforgivable Sin of American Politics? |url=https://lithub.com/is-atheism-the-last-unforgivable-sin-of-american-politics/ |access-date=August 18, 2018 |publisher=Lit Hub |date=August 18, 2018}}</ref> In his biography, however, Frank states unequivocally that he is not an atheist and is uncomfortable expressing firm views on questions for which he is unable to provide an answer. Frank's agnosticism led him to resolve—if he had been appointed as interim senator—to take the ] on the ], rather than the Bible. For most of his life and entire congressional career, Frank was known as a Jew. Frank continues to identify strongly with the Jewish community and has been careful throughout his career that his agnosticism not reflect negatively on other Jews. For example, when he stopped going to temple services on the ] he was careful to remain at home and out of the public eye so that other Jews would not be criticized using his example.<ref name="us.macmillan.com"/>

In May 2014, the ] awarded Frank the Humanist of the Year<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://americanhumanist.org/news/2014-05-atheists-gather-in-philadelphia-for-73rd-annual-amer/|title=Atheists Gather in Philadelphia for 73rd Annual American Humanist Association Conference|date=May 29, 2014|publisher=American Humanist Association|language=en-US|access-date=March 9, 2019}}</ref> and during his acceptance speech he spoke about his personal beliefs and the complexities of working in government. He talked primarily about the politicized case of ] and the public's evolving view about government intrusion into personal healthcare decisions.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://thehumanist.com/magazine/november-december-2014/features/how-to-achieve-equality-talk-to-your-members-of-congress|title=How to Achieve Equality? Talk to Your Members of Congress|magazine=The Humanist|language=en-US|access-date=March 8, 2019|last=Frank|first=Barney|publisher=American Humanist Association|location=Washington, DC|volume=74|issue=6|pages=12–17|issn=0018-7399}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=That notion, that there was a religious obligation to intervene in human affairs, angered most of the American people. You've got to show people what the implications are of the view that religion should govern our public affairs, as opposed to being merely a personal guide.}}

===Sexuality===
According to Stuart Weisberg's 2009 biography ''Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman'', Frank dated women in an effort to deny his homosexuality. His last romance with a woman was a nearly two-year-long affair with Irish-American Catholic ], a Boston School Committee member and the daughter of former ] owner ], that began in 1974. When the two split up, at Frank's instigation, he admitted to her that he was gay. He was still closeted publicly. According to Frank, he "realized it was crazy" to try to have a romance with someone he cared for but was not sexually compatible with due to his homosexuality. "That was the last effort to avoid being gay," Weisberg quotes Frank as saying. Frank never again dated a woman.<ref>{{cite book|last = Weisberg|first = S.|date = 2009|title = Barney Frank: the Story of America's only left-handed, gay, Jewish congressman|url = https://archive.org/details/barneyfrankstory00weis|url-access = registration|location = Amherst|publisher = ]|isbn = 9781558497214}}</ref> In 2015, in an interview with ], Frank said it was unfair to Sullivan to date her with him being gay.<ref name="dating">{{cite web |last1=Van Zulen-Wood |first1=Simon |title=Q&A with Barney Frank |url=https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2015/03/16/barney-frank-interview/ |website=Boston Magazine |access-date=February 19, 2022 |date=March 16, 2015}}</ref>

Frank started ] as gay to friends before he ran for Congress and came out publicly on May 30, 1987, "prompted in part by increased media interest in his private life" and the death of ], "a ] ] Republican representative from Connecticut". Frank told ''The Washington Post'' after McKinney's death that there was "An unfortunate debate about 'Was he or wasn't he? Didn't he or did he?' I said to myself, I don't want that to happen to me."<ref name="anniversary">{{Cite news |last=Kiritsy |first=Laura |title=Happy Anniversary, Barney Frank! |newspaper=Edge Boston |date=May 31, 2007 |url=http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=20762 |access-date=October 25, 2008 |archive-date=May 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200512202135/http://www.edgeboston.com/index.php?ch=news&sc=glbt&sc2=news&sc3=&id=20762 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="to be Frank" /><ref name=Barney>{{cite web |author=Carlos Santoscoy |url=http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4568&MediaType=1&Category=26 |title=Barney Frank's 'Left-Handed Gay Jew' No Tell-All |work=On Top Magazine |date=September 20, 2009 |access-date=January 19, 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100102204753/http://ontopmag.com/article.aspx?id=4568&MediaType=1&Category=26| archive-date= January 2, 2010}}</ref><ref group=note>Frank, who was elected to the House in 1980, was the first gay congressional representative to ] on his own. Congressman ] had been the only openly gay federal legislator, having survived the revelation during a ] that he had had a relationship with a seventeen-year-old male ] a decade earlier.</ref> Frank's announcement had little impact on his electoral prospects.<ref name="to be Frank">{{Cite news |last=Pierce |first=Charles P. |title=To Be Frank |newspaper=] |date=October 2, 2005 |url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2005/10/02/to_be_frank/}}</ref> Shortly after coming out, Frank met and began dating Herb Moses, an economist and LGBT activist; their relationship lasted for eleven years until an amicable break-up in July 1998.<ref name="to be Frank" /><ref name="DC's Most Influ">{{cite web |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WD0dAAAAIBAJ&pg=6736,534553&dq=washington's-most-prominent-and-influential-gay-couple-rep-barney-frank&hl=en |title=DC's Most Influential Gay Couple Calls It Quits |work=The Tuscaloosa News (]) |date=July 3, 1998 |access-date=January 19, 2010}}</ref><ref name="And Then The">{{cite news |author=Claudia Dreifus |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/02/04/magazine/and-then-there-was-frank.html |title=And Then There Was Frank |work=The New York Times |date=February 4, 1996 |access-date=January 19, 2010|author-link=Claudia Dreifus }}</ref> Moses, who was an executive at Fannie Mae from 1991 to 1998, was the first partner of an openly gay member of Congress to receive spousal benefits and the two were considered "Washington's most powerful and influential gay couple".<ref name="DC's Most Influ" />

==Electoral history==
{{s-start}}
|+ {{ushr|Massachusetts|4|}}: Results 1980–2010<ref name="clerk">{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |title=Office of the House Clerk – Electoral Statistics |publisher=Clerk of the United States House of Representatives |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070725184700/http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/index.html |archive-date=July 25, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="fedelect">{{cite web|url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/electionresults.shtml|title=Election Results|publisher=] }}</ref>
! Year
!
! Democrat
! Votes
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! Votes
! %
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! Votes
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! Party
! Votes
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |103,466
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |52%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |Richard Jones
|{{party shading/Republican}} |95,898
|{{party shading/Republican}} |48%
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |151,305
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |60%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |]
|{{party shading/Republican}} |82,804
|{{party shading/Republican}} |40%
|<!--Write in 9-->
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |172,903
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |74%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |Jim Forte
|{{party shading/Republican}} |60,121
|{{party shading/Republican}} |26%
|<!--Write-in 8-->
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |134,387
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |89%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |''No candidate''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
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|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Thomas DeVisscher
|{{party shading/Independent}} |]<!--Variously listed as Independent, Republican or "American"-->
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |16,857
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |11%
|<!--Write in 21-->
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |169,729
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |70%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |Debra Tucker
|{{party shading/Republican}} |71,661
|{{party shading/Republican}} |30%
|<!--Write in 24-->
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |143,473
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |66%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |John Soto
|{{party shading/Republican}} |75,454
|{{party shading/Republican}} |34%
|<!--Write in 42-->
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |182,633
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |68%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |Edward McCormick
|{{party shading/Republican}} |70,665
|{{party shading/Republican}} |26%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Luke Lumina
|{{party shading/Independent}} |Independent Voters
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |13,670
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |5%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Dennis Ingalls
|{{party shading/Independent}} |]
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,797
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1%
|<!--Other 47-->
|-
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |168,942
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |99%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |''No candidate''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
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|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Others
|{{party shading/Independent}} |
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |853
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1%
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |183,844
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |72%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |Jonathan Raymond
|{{party shading/Republican}} |72,701
|{{party shading/Republican}} |28%
|<!--Write in 92-->
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |148,340
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |98%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |''No candidate''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
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|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Others
|{{party shading/Independent}} |
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,380
|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2%
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |200,638
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |75%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |Martin Travis
|{{party shading/Republican}} |56,553
|{{party shading/Republican}} |21%
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|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |David Euchner
|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |]
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |10,553
|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |4%
|<!--Write in 136-->
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |166,125
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |99%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |''No candidate''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
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|{{party shading/Independent}} |Others
|{{party shading/Independent}} |
|{{party shading/Independent}} |1,691
|{{party shading/Independent}} |1%
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |219,260
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |78%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |''No candidate''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |]
|{{party shading/Independent}} |]
|{{party shading/Independent}} |62,293
|{{party shading/Independent}} |22%
|<!--others 486-->
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |196,513
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |98%
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|{{party shading/Republican}} |''No candidate''
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|{{party shading/Republican}} |
|
|{{party shading/Independent}} |Others
|{{party shading/Independent}} |
|{{party shading/Independent}} |2,730
|{{party shading/Independent}} |1%
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |203,032
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |68%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} | Earl Sholley
|{{party shading/Republican}} |75,571
|{{party shading/Republican}} |25%
|
|{{party shading/Independent}} |Susan Allen
|{{party shading/Independent}} |]
|{{party shading/Independent}} |19,848
|{{party shading/Independent}} |7%
|<!--Other 337-->
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|{{party shading/Democratic}} |'''Barney Frank'''
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |126,194
|{{party shading/Democratic}} |54%
|
|{{party shading/Republican}} |]
|{{party shading/Republican}} |101,517
|{{party shading/Republican}} |43%
|
|{{party shading/Independent}} |Susan Allen
|{{party shading/Independent}} |]
|{{party shading/Independent}} |3,445
|{{party shading/Independent}} |1%
|
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Donald Jordan
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Tax Revolt Independent
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |2,873
|{{Party shading/Independent}} |1%
|
{{s-end}}


==Bibliography== ==Bibliography==
* (1962) * (1962)
* (1989) * (1989)
* (1992) * (1992)
* (2000)
* "American Immigration Law: A Case Study in the Effective Use of the Political Process" in J. D'Emilio (Ed.), St. Martin's Press (2000)
* (2001)
* (2010)
* (2010)
* (2011)
* (2014)
* (2015)
* (2017)
* "The Economic and Political Implications of the Dodd-Frank Act" in S. O'Halloran & T. Groll (Eds.), Columbia University Press (2019)

==Filmography==
* by Bart Everly (executive produced by Jonathan Van Meter, co-produced by Ruth Rachel Anderson-Avraham), ] (LOC) Catalog
* by Sheila Canavan and Michael Chandler, IMDb

== See also ==
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]
* ]


== Notes == == Notes ==
<references group=note/> {{Reflist|group=note}}


==References== ==References==
{{reflist|2}} {{Reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
{{refbegin}} {{refbegin}}
* {{cite book|last = Frank|first = B.|date = 2015|title = Frank: a life in politics from the Great Society to same-sex marriage|location = New York|publisher = ]|isbn = 9780374280307}}
*Johansson, Warren & Percy, William A. Harrington Park Press, 1994. pp. 106, 139, 143, 154, 157, 188-9, 228, 231, 235, 291
* {{cite book|last = Ruttman|first = L.|author-link = Larry Ruttman|date = 2013|chapter = Barney Frank: Fan and Congressman|title = American Jews and America's Game|url = https://archive.org/details/americanjewsamer00rutt|url-access = limited|location = Lincoln|publisher = ]|pages = –64|isbn = 9780803264755}}
* {{cite web |last=Rapp |first=Linda |title=Frank, Barney |work=] |year=2004 |accessdate=2007-08-16 |url=http://www.glbtq.com/social-sciences/frank_b.html}}
* {{cite book|last = Weisberg|first = S.|date = 2009|title = Barney Frank: the Story of America's only left-handed, gay, Jewish congressman|url = https://archive.org/details/barneyfrankstory00weis|url-access = registration|location = Amherst|publisher = ]|isbn = 9781558497214}}
{{refend}} {{refend}}


==External links== ==External links==
{{Sister project links|wikt=no|v=no|s=author:Barney Frank|b=no|n=no}}
{{Wikiquote}}
{{commons}} * {{C-SPAN|762}}
* {{CongLinks|congbio=f000339|votesmart=26897|fec=H0MA04036|congress=}}
* U.S. House website
* on ]
* Campaign website
{{CongLinks | congbio = f000339 | fec = H0MA04036 | opensecrets = N00000275 | votesmart = H1751103 | ontheissuespath = MA/Barney_Frank.htm | legistorm = | surge = | govtrack = | findagrave = }}
* at ] ]


{{s-start}}
===Articles===
{{s-par|us-ma-hs}}
* , ''The New Yorker'', Jan 12 2009
{{s-bef|before=Eliot Wadsworth}}
* , ''The New York Times'', May 13, 2008.
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the ]<br>from the ] Suffolk district|years=1973–1979}}
* , ''The Bilerico Project'', September 28, 2007.
{{s-aft|after=Daniel Pokaski}}
* , ''In These Times'', ]
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* , ''Buzzflash'', July 22, 2003
{{s-bef|before=Francis Dailey}}
* ''Metro Weekly'', March 20, 2003.
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the ]<br>from the ] Suffolk district|years=1979–1981}}
* , ''The Hoya'', October 19, 2001.
{{s-aft|after=Thomas Vallely}}
* , ''keithboykin.com'', 1999.
|-
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{{s-par|us-hs}} {{s-par|us-hs}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Member of the ]<br>from ]|years=1981–2013}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the ]|years=2003–2007}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the ]|years=2011–2013}}
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{{s-ttl|title=]<br>''{{small|as Former US Representative}}''|years=}}
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{{Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts}}
{{US House Financial Services chairs}}
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Latest revision as of 00:02, 7 December 2024

American politician (born 1940)

Barney Frank
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Massachusetts's 4th district
In office
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 2013
Preceded byRobert Drinan
Succeeded byJoe Kennedy III
Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee
In office
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2013
Preceded bySpencer Bachus
Succeeded byMaxine Waters
In office
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007
Preceded byJohn LaFalce
Succeeded bySpencer Bachus
Chair of the House Financial Services Committee
In office
January 4, 2007 – January 3, 2011
Preceded byMike Oxley
Succeeded bySpencer Bachus
Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
In office
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1981
Preceded byEliot Wadsworth
Succeeded byThomas Vallely
Constituency5th Suffolk (1973–1979)
8th Suffolk (1979–1981)
Personal details
BornBarnett Frank
(1940-03-31) March 31, 1940 (age 84)
Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse Jim Ready ​(m. 2012)
EducationHarvard University (BA, JD)
Barney Frank's voice Frank, as chair of the House Financial Services Committee, on the need for the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Recorded September 29, 2008

Barnett Frank (born March 31, 1940) is a retired American politician. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts from 1981 to 2013. A Democrat, Frank served as chairman of the House Financial Services Committee from 2007 to 2011 and was a leading co-sponsor of the 2010 Dodd–Frank Act. Frank, a resident of Newton, Massachusetts, was considered the most prominent gay politician in the United States during his time in Congress.

Born and raised in Bayonne, New Jersey, Frank graduated from Bayonne High School, Harvard College and Harvard Law School. He worked as a political aide before winning election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1972. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980 with 52 percent of the vote. He was re-elected every term thereafter by wide margins. In 1987, he publicly came out as gay, becoming the first member of Congress to do so voluntarily. From 2003 until his retirement, Frank was the leading Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, and he served as committee chairman when his party held a House majority from 2007 to 2011. In July 2012, he married his long-time partner, James Ready, becoming the first member of Congress to marry someone of the same sex while in office. Frank did not seek re-election in 2012, and was succeeded by fellow Democrat Joe Kennedy III. Frank's autobiography, A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage, was published in 2015.

Prior to his time in the House of Representatives, Frank served in the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1973 to 1981.

Early life, education, and early career

Frank was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, one of four children of Elsie (née Golush) and Samuel Frank. His family was Jewish, and his grandparents had emigrated from Poland and Russia. Frank's father ran a truck stop in Jersey City—a place Frank has described as "totally corrupt"—and when Frank was 6 or 7, his father served a year in prison for refusing to testify to a grand jury against Frank's uncle. Frank was educated at Bayonne High School, before matriculating at Harvard College, where he resided in Matthews Hall his first year and then in Kirkland House and Winthrop House. He graduated in 1962.

Frank's undergraduate studies were interrupted by the death of his father, and Frank took a year off to help resolve the family's affairs prior to his graduation. In 1964, he was a volunteer in Mississippi during Freedom Summer. He taught undergraduates at Harvard while studying for a PhD in Government, but left in 1968 before completing the degree, to become Boston mayor Kevin White's Chief Assistant, a position he held for three years. He then served for a year as Administrative Assistant to Congressman Michael J. Harrington. In 1977, Frank graduated from Harvard Law School, where he was once a student of Henry Kissinger, while serving as a Massachusetts state representative.

Pre-congressional career

In 1972, Frank was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served for eight years. He made a name for himself in the mid-1970s as a political defender of the Combat Zone, Boston's notorious red light district. Neighborhoods in Frank's district bordered the Combat Zone. As a means of dealing with crime in the area (including violence, police corruption and the infiltration by organized crime), he introduced a bill into the Massachusetts General Court that would have legalized the sex-for-hire business but kept it quarantined in a red light district, which would have been moved to Boston's Financial District.

In 1979, Frank was admitted to the bar in Massachusetts. While in state and local government, he taught, part-time, at the University of Massachusetts Boston, the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard, and at Boston University. He published numerous articles on politics and public affairs; in 1992, he published Speaking Frankly, an essay on the role the Democratic Party should play in the 1990s.

U.S. House of Representatives

1981, Congressional Pictorial Directory – Frank's first term as Congressman

Elections

In 1980, Frank ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the 4th congressional district, hoping to succeed Reverend Robert Drinan, who had left Congress, following a call by Pope John Paul II for priests to withdraw from political positions. In the Democratic primary held on September 16, 1980, Frank won 52% of the vote in a four-candidate field. As the Democratic nominee, he faced Republican Richard A. Jones in the general election and won narrowly, 52–48%.

For his first term, Frank represented a district in the western and southern suburbs of Boston, anchored by Brookline and his hometown of Newton. However, in 1982, redistricting forced him to run against Republican Margaret Heckler, who represented a district centered on the South Coast, including Fall River and New Bedford. Although the newly configured district retained Frank's district number—the 4th—it was geographically more Heckler's district. Frank focused on Heckler's initial support for President Ronald Reagan's tax cuts, and won with 60% of the vote.

Frank did not face another serious race again for a quarter-century. From 1984 to 2008, he won re-election 12 times with at least 67% of the vote. In 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, Frank won with more than an overwhelming 97% of the vote, with no challenge from a major political party.

In 2010, Frank ran for his 16th term. Public opinion polling showed him facing his first credible challenge since defeating Heckler in 1982. His opponent was Republican Sean Bielat, a U.S. Marine veteran and businessman. In mid-September, an internal poll showed Frank leading 48–38%. In late October, he loaned his campaign $200,000. In early October, The Cook Political Report changed its assessment of the district from "solid Democratic" to "likely Democratic"—meaning that while Frank was favored, a victory by Bielat could not be entirely ruled out. While Frank had a 3-to-1 advantage in terms of cash on hand, Bielat outraised him in September. On October 25, a survey by The Boston Globe showed Frank leading 46–33%. Frank won re-election to his 16th term, 54–43%.

On November 28, 2011, Frank announced at a news conference that he would not seek re-election in 2012.

Tenure

Scandal

In 1985, Frank was still publicly closeted. That year he hired Steve Gobie, a male prostitute, for sex, and they became "more friends than sexual partners." Frank housed Gobie and hired him with personal funds as an aide, housekeeper and driver and paid for his attorney and court-ordered psychiatrist.

In 1987, Frank evicted Gobie after being advised by his landlord that Gobie kept escorting despite the support and was doing so in the residence. Later that year, Gobie's friends persuaded him that he had a gay male version of Mayflower Madam, a TV movie about an escort service. In 1989, Gobie tried to initiate a bidding war for the story between WUSA-TV (Channel 9), The Washington Times, and The Washington Post. He then gave the story to The Washington Times for nothing, in hopes of getting a book contract.

Amid calls for an investigation, Frank asked the House Ethics Committee to investigate his relationship "in order to ensure that the public record is clear." The Committee found no evidence that Frank had known of or been involved in the alleged illegal activity and dismissed all Gobie's more scandalous claims; they recommended a reprimand for Frank using his congressional office to fix 33 of Gobie's parking tickets and for misstatements of fact in a memorandum relating to Gobie's criminal probation record. The House voted 408–18 to reprimand Frank.

The attempts to censure and expel Frank were led by Republican Larry Craig. Eventually, Frank would criticize Craig for hypocrisy after Craig's own arrest in 2007 for lewd conduct in a public restroom. Despite the controversy, Frank won re-election in 1990 with 66 percent of the vote, and by larger margins until the 2010 mid-term elections when his victory margin went down to eleven points.

In 2003, a documentary film about Barney Frank entitled Let's Get Frank was released. The documentary recounted Barney Frank's struggle coming out in public and political life as a prominent gay man, the height of which was his reprimand following the Gobie scandal, and documented Frank's dedicated defense of U.S. President Bill Clinton during his impeachment trial in January and February 1999. At the time of its release, Let's Get Frank received mixed reviews, some celebrating the film, as Ken Eisner did in Variety, and others struggling with Everly's distinct style and the dual telling of Frank's own personal story along with that of the Clinton Impeachment Trial through Frank's eyes, as Ed Halter did in The Village Voice. This work has since been included in the film canon, and is now considered to be a classic.

Public image

"Mr. Frank has earned a reputation during his 28 years in Congress as a sharp-tongued and quick-witted debater," summarized The New York Times in 2008. In one quip, he said he was unable to complete his review of the Starr Report detailing President Bill Clinton's relationship with Monica Lewinsky, complaining that it was "too much reading about heterosexual sex". In 2004 and again in 2006, a survey of Capitol Hill staffers published in Washingtonian gave Frank the title of the "brainiest", "funniest", and "most eloquent" member of the House. In 2008, the same survey named him "brainiest", and runner up for "workhorse", and "most eloquent"; in 2010, he was named "brainiest", "workhorse", and "funniest". He is also widely considered to have been, during his tenure, one of the most powerful or smart members of Congress. Democratic speech writer—and later U.S. representative for New Jersey—Josh Gottheimer, in his book Ripples of Hope: Great American Civil Rights Speeches, describes Frank as "one of the brightest and most energetic defenders of civil rights issues."

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Frank was scrutinized for campaign contributions from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. OpenSecrets reported in 2009 that Frank received over $42,000 in campaign contributions from the two organizations since 1989. Fannie Mae also made grants in 1994 and 2001 of $75,000 to a charity cofounded by Frank's mother. Bill Sammon, political editor of Fox News, claimed the donations from Fannie and Freddie influenced his support of their lending programs, and said that Frank did not play a strong enough role in reforming the institutions in the years leading up to the economic crisis of 2008. In their 2011 book Reckless Endangerment, New York Times business reporter Gretchen Morgenson and co-author Josh Rosner called Frank a "major recipient of Fannie Mae's largesse, albeit indirectly" and "a perpetual protector of Fannie."

Additionally, in 1991, Fannie Mae hired Herb Moses, Frank's domestic partner, to a managerial position following a recommendation by Frank. While with Fannie Mae from 1991 to 1998, Moses oversaw projects "relaxing Fannie Mae's restrictions on home improvement loans and small farm mortgages", wrote Morgenson and Rosner. During a 1991 hearing of the House Banking subcommittee on housing and community development, Frank objected to a proposal by Congressional Budget Office director Robert Reischauer to make "safety and soundness" the primary objective for Fannie Mae, aggressively enough that subcommittee chair Henry B. Gonzalez needed to intervene to allow Reischauer a chance to speak. In 2006, a Fannie Mae representative stated in SEC filings that they "did not participate in large amounts of these non-traditional mortgages in 2004 and 2005." In response to criticism, Frank said, "In 2004, it was Bush who started to push Fannie and Freddie into subprime mortgages, because they were boasting about how they were expanding homeownership for low-income people. And I said at the time, 'Hey—(a) this is going to jeopardize their profitability, but (b) it's going to put people in homes they can't afford, and they're gonna lose them.'" In 2009 Frank responded to what he called "wholly inaccurate efforts by Republicans to blame Democrats, and in particular" for the subprime mortgage crisis, which is linked to the financial crisis of 2007–2009. He outlined his efforts to reform these institutions and add regulations, but met resistance from Republicans, with the main exception being a bill with Republican Mike Oxley that died because of opposition from President Bush. The 2005 bill included Frank objectives, which were to impose tighter regulation of Fannie and Freddie and new funds for rental housing. Frank and Mike Oxley achieved broad bipartisan support for the bill in the Financial Services Committee, and it passed the House. But the Senate never voted on the measure, in part because President Bush was likely to veto it. "If it had passed, that would have been one of the ways we could have reined in the bowling ball going downhill called housing," Oxley told Frank. In an op-ed piece in The Wall Street Journal, Lawrence B. Lindsey, a former economic adviser to President George W. Bush, wrote that Frank "is the only politician I know who has argued that we needed tighter rules that intentionally produce fewer homeowners and more renters." Once control shifted to the Democrats, Frank was able to help guide both the Federal Housing Reform Act (H.R. 1427) and the Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act (H.R. 3915) to passage in 2007. Frank also said that the Republican-led Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act of 1999, which repealed part of the Glass–Steagall Act of 1933 and removed the wall between commercial and investment banks, contributed to the financial meltdown. Frank stated further that "during twelve years of Republican rule no reform was adopted regarding Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. In 2007, a few months after I became the chairman, the House passed a strong reform bill; we sought to get the administration's approval to include it in the economic stimulus legislation in January 2008; and finally got it passed and onto President Bush's desk in July 2008. Moreover, "we were able to adopt it in nineteen months, and we could have done it much quicker if the administration had cooperated."

Subprime mortgage crisis

As former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, beginning in 2007, Frank was "at the center of power". Frank has been a critic of aspects of the Federal Reserve system, partnering with some Republicans in opposition to some policies. Frank says that he and Republican Congressman Ron Paul "first bonded because we were both conspicuous nonworshipers at the Temple of the Fed and of the High Priest Alan Greenspan."

Frank has been involved in mortgage foreclosure bailout issues. In 2008 Frank supported passage of the American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act, intended to protect thousands of homeowners from foreclosure. This law, H.R. 3221, is considered one of the most important and complex issues on which he worked. In an August 2007 op-ed piece in Financial Times, Frank wrote, "In the debate between those who believe in essentially unregulated markets and others who hold that reasonable regulation diminishes market excesses without inhibiting their basic function, the subprime situation unfortunately provides ammunition for the latter view." Frank was also instrumental in the passage of H.R. 5244, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2008, a measure that drew praise from editorial boards and consumer advocates. In 2007. Frank co-sponsored legislation to reform the Section 202 refinancing program, which is for affordable housing for the elderly, and Section 811 disabled programs. Frank has been a chief advocate of the National Housing Trust Fund, which was created as part of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 and was the first affordable housing program to be enacted by the Congress since 1990.

During the subprime mortgage crisis, Frank was characterized as "a key deal-maker, an unlikely bridge between his party's left-wing base and ... free market conservatives" in the Bush administration. Hank Paulson, the U.S. Treasury Secretary for the Bush administration, said he enjoyed Frank's penchant for brokering deals, "he is looking to get things done and make a difference, he focuses on areas of agreement and tries to build on those."

The New York Times noted that the Federal Housing Administration's crucial role in the nation's housing market, providing low-down-payment mortgages during the crisis of 2007–2010 when no mortgages would otherwise have been available, "helped avert full-scale disaster" by helping people purchase or refinance homes and thereby putting a floor under falling home prices. However, due to the tighter flow of credit from the banks, total FHA loans in 2009 were four times that of 2006, raising concern that year that if the economy were to dip back into recession, more Fed funds could be required to keep those loans afloat. Frank's response was that the additional defaults—2.2% more of the total portfolio in 2009 than the year before—were worth the economic stabilization of the broader policy, noting "It was an effort to keep prices from falling too fast." In that context, he opined, "I don't think it's a bad thing that the bad loans occurred." In fact, the unprecedented number of loans made since 2008 were noted to be performing far better than those in the prior two years.

Political positions and votes

Frank in 2002 in his congressional office

Abortion

In 2009 Frank had a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America, indicating a pro-choice voting record. He voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act, against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act and against restrictions on the transportation of minors across state lines by non-family members to circumvent local abortion laws. In 1993 Frank co-sponsored the "Freedom of Choice Act" (H.R.25) (1993-H25) to "protect the reproductive rights of women". In 2006, he co-sponsored the "Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act" (S.3945) (06-S3945), a bill for "emergency contraception for rape victims". In 2007 he co-sponsored the "Compassionate Care for Servicewomen Act" (S.1800 & HR.2064) (07-HR2064) to "providing emergency contraception at military facilities"; the "Prevention First Act" (S.21&H.R.463 2009-S21) to "expand access to preventive health care services that help reduce unintended pregnancy, reduce abortions, and improve access to women's health care".

Civil rights

In 1987, Frank was the Chair of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Administrative Law and Governmental Relations in the 100th Congress. In this position, he was one of the staunchest supporters of redress and reparations for Japanese American internment during World War II. In 2001, Frank co-sponsored an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to apply equal rights based on gender differences. In 2002 he co-sponsored the "Federal Agency Protection of Privacy Act" (H.R.4561) to require a "Privacy Impact Statement" on new federal rules. In 2002 he was scored at 93% by the American Civil Liberties Union on civil rights issues indicating a pro-civil rights voting record.

In 2006, Frank was one of three Representatives to oppose the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, which restricted protests (notably those of Fred Phelps' Westboro Baptist Church) at soldiers' funerals. He opposed the bill, which passed unanimously in the Senate, on civil liberties and constitutional grounds. Frank said of the vote, "I think it's very likely to be found unconstitutional. It's true that when you defend civil liberties you are typically defending people who do obnoxious things ... You play into their hand when you let them provoke you into overdoing it. I don't want these thugs to claim America is hypocritical." The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People scored him at 100% in 2006 indicating a pro-affirmative-action stance.

In 2007, Frank co-sponsored the "Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act" (S.2521/H.R.4838) to "provide benefits to domestic partners of Federal employees". That same year, he co-sponsored the "Equal Rights Amendment" (S.J.RES.10/H.J.RES.40) to "strengthen the ongoing efforts of women across the country to obtain equal treatment." In 2009, he signed bills recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the 100th anniversary of the NAACP.

Frank has been outspoken on many civil rights issues, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) rights. In 1987, he publicly came out as gay. In 1990, Frank was instrumental in crafting the 1990 Immigration Act, which restated the reasons for which a person could be denied entry into the country. The act did not include "sexual preference exclusion", reforming earlier immigration law which allowed persons to be excluded for a sexual deviance "afflict". He said in a 1996 interview: "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." In 1995, then-Republican House Majority Leader Dick Armey famously referred to Frank as "Barney Fag" in a press interview. Armey apologized and said it was "a slip of the tongue". Frank did not accept Armey's explanation, saying "I turned to my own expert, my mother, who reports that in 59 years of marriage, no one ever introduced her as Elsie Fag." In 1998, Frank founded the national LGBT Democratic organization, National Stonewall Democrats.

In 2006, Frank and incoming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi were accused by Rep. John Hostettler (R-IN) of having a "radical homosexual agenda"; Frank responded "I do have things I would like to see adopted on behalf of LGBT people: they include the right to marry the individual of our choice; the right to serve in the military to defend our country; and the right to a job based solely on our own qualifications. I acknowledge that this is an agenda, but I do not think that any self-respecting radical in history would have considered advocating people's rights to get married, join the army, and earn a living as a terribly inspiring revolutionary platform." Frank's stance on outing gay Republicans has been called the "Frank Rule" whereby a closeted person who uses her or his power, position, or notoriety to hurt LGBT people can be outed. The issue became relevant during the Mark Foley scandal of 2006, during which Frank clarified his position on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher: "I think there's a right to privacy. But the right to privacy should not be a right to hypocrisy. And people who want to demonize other people shouldn't then be able to go home and close the door and do it themselves."

In February 2009, Frank was one of three openly gay members of Congress, along with Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Jared Polis of Colorado. In April 2009, Frank was named in the LGBT magazine Out's "Annual Power 50 List", landing at the top spot.

In 2006 the Human Rights Campaign scored him at 100% indicating a pro-gay-rights stance.

Crime

In 2000, Frank was rated at 89% by Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes. He co-sponsored "Innocence Protection Act of 2001" (H.R. 912, S.486) to "reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed " and the "National Death Penalty Moratorium Act of 2001" (H.R.1038, S.233) to limit capital punishment until the National Commission on the Death Penalty reviewed the "fairness of the imposition of the death penalty". In 2001, he also co-sponsored the "Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act" (01-HR1343) to "provide Federal assistance to States and local jurisdictions to prosecute hate crimes." Frank co-sponsored the "Recidivism Reduction and Second Chance Act of 2007" to reduce recidivism. (this became Public Law No: 110-199).

Drugs

In 2001, Frank authored the States' Rights to Medical Marijuana Act (H.R. 2592), an attempt to stop the federal government from preempting state medical marijuana laws. He consistently voted for the bipartisan Hinchey–Rohrabacher amendment, annually proposed by Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), to prohibit the Justice Department from prosecuting individuals complying with state medical cannabis laws. In March 2008, he proposed the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2008 (HR 5843), which would have legalized at the federal level small amounts of the drug, but which died in committee during the 110th Congress. On June 18, 2009, he re-introduced the bill as the Personal Use of Marijuana by Responsible Adults Act of 2009 (HR 2943). On June 23, 2011, Frank introduced the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act. Commenting on legislation to remove federal criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use, Frank stated "In a free society a large degree of human activity is none of the government's business. We should make criminal what's going to hurt other people and other than that we should leave it to people to make their own choices." In 2003, he was rated "A" by Vote Hemp, indicating a pro-hemp voting record. In 2006 he was rated "+30" by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance. In 2007 he co-sponsored the "Drug Sentencing Reform & Kingpin Trafficking Act" ((S.1711) 07-S1711) to "target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine". In 2008, Frank sponsored "Removing Impediments to Students Education" (RISE) ((H.R.5157) 08-HR5157) to allow rehabilitated drug offenders to get student loans.

In 2009 Frank signed the "Community AIDS and Hepatitis Prevention Act" (HR 179 2009-H179) to "use Federal funds for syringe exchange programs for purposes of reducing the transmission of bloodborne pathogens, including HIV and viral hepatitis" and the Industrial Hemp Farming Act of 2009 (H.R.1866 2009-H1866) to "grant each state regulating authority for the growing and processing of industrial hemp."

Economic issues

Frank was a member of the Congressional Internet Caucus established in 1996 to "promoting growth and advancement of the Internet and advance the United States' world leadership in the digital world". In 2001, he co-sponsored the "Anti-Spamming Act" (01-HR718) to protect people and businesses from "unsolicited and unwanted electronic mail". In 2006, Frank voted for the "Communications, Opportunity, Promotion, and Enhancement Act" (Bill HR 5252 Amendment 987) to "establish "network neutrality" (non-tiered Internet)." In 2008, Frank voted against the "FISA Amendments Act" (Bill HR6304) which would give retroactive immunity for those involved in the NSA warrantless surveillance controversy. That same year, he co-sponsored overturning FCC approval of media consolidation (S.J.RES.28&H.J.RES.79 2008-SJR28).

Environment

In 1993, Frank co-sponsored "Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments" (H.R.3392) to regulate more contaminants under the Clean Water Act. In 2001, he co-sponsored the "National Forest Protection and Restoration Act" (H.R.1494) to "prohibiting commercial logging on Federal public lands". In 2003, he was rated 95% by the League of Conservation Voters, indicating pro-environment votes. In 2007, he co-sponsored the "Great Cats and Rare Canids Act" (H.R.1464) to "provide financial resources and to foster international cooperation for promoting conservation of rare felids & canids". In the same year, he co-sponsored the "Animal Fighting Prohibition Enforcement Act" (S.261/H.R.137) to "strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting".

Military

In 1996 Frank co-sponsored the "Federal Law Enforcement Dependents Assistance Act" (H.R.4111. Became Public Law No: 104–238.) "to provide educational assistance to the dependents of Federal law enforcement officials who are killed or disabled in the performance of their duties." In 2001 Frank co-sponsored "the MX Missile Stand-Down Act" (01-HR2718) to take fifty Peacekeeper missiles off of high-alert status as well as the Landmine Elimination and Victim Assistance Act (01-HR948). As of December 2003, Frank had an 89% rating by Peace Action, indicating a pro-peace voting record. In 2005, he co-sponsored "Rail Security Act" (S.1379/H.R.153) (05-S1379) giving higher priority to rail transportation security. In 2008, he co-sponsored the "Veterans Suicide Study Act" ( (S.2899/H.R.4204) 08-S2899) designed to study and address suicides among veterans. Frank advocated for a 25-percent reduction in the overall Military budget of the United States. "The math is compelling: if we do not make reductions approximating 25 percent of the military budget starting fairly soon, it will be impossible to continue to fund an adequate level of domestic activity ... ," wrote Frank. He claimed that such a significant reduction would have no effect on the United States' ability to defend itself. "If," he said, "beginning one year from now, we were to cut military spending by 25 percent from its projected levels, we would still be immeasurably stronger than any combination of nations with whom we might be engaged." Frank supports having fewer F-35 Joint Strike Fighter planes, but also supports a $3-billion backup engine project that the Pentagon does not want. Frank told MSNBC's Keith Olbermann that he actually wanted to cut the entire F-35 program, but as long as military spending continued, he would fight for his district's share of it.

Online gambling

Frank has partnered with Ron Paul in support of online gambling rights. In 2006, both strongly opposed H.R. 4777, the Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act, and H.R. 4411, the Goodlatte-Leach Internet Gambling Prohibition Act. To restore online gambling rights, in 2007 Frank sponsored H.R. 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act. This bill would have established licensing and regulation of online gaming sites. It provided for age verification and protections for compulsive gamblers. In 2008, he and Paul introduced H.R. 5767, the Payment Systems Protection Act, a bill that sought to place a moratorium on enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 while the United States Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve defined "unlawful Internet gambling". As a result of these efforts, Frank (who does not gamble) has been praised by poker players and online gamblers, including many Republicans.

Relations with Israel

Frank has been a determined supporter of the State of Israel. "The Israeli government has been a wholly democratic one from the beginning," he said in a lecture to students. "It is one of the freest democracies in the world". He attributed the primary reason for Israel's long war to his belief that Palestinians are unwilling to make concessions.

In August 2009, a confidential memo written by the consul general of Israel in Boston, Nadav Tamir, was leaked to the Israeli media. In the memo, Tamir said that Israel's dealings with the Obama administration on differences over settlements were eroding US support. After Tamir was reprimanded by the Israeli government, Frank defended Tamir in a letter sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in which Frank wrote: "I was sorry to learn that he (Tamir) is being criticized because of his accurate reporting of significant (negative) sentiment in the United States ... If the people who work for me did not give me the kind of straightforward, thoughtful analysis that the consul is providing, even if it wasn't the most welcome news, that failure — not the information — would cause me unhappiness."

Post-House career

In the wake of the fiscal cliff legislation at the start of 2013, Frank stated that he was interested in the interim appointment that Governor Deval Patrick was expected to make to fill John Kerry's U.S. Senate seat once the latter resigned to serve as United States Secretary of State. Frank had initially said he was not interested in the seat, but went on to change his mind, noting that "that deal now means that February, March, and April are going to be among the most important months in American financial history". He said he would not run in the special election that would be held to fill the seat for the remainder of Kerry's term.

Frank joined the board of directors of the New York-based Signature Bank on June 17, 2015.

In 2018, Frank was featured on Sacha Baron Cohen's spoof comedy series Who Is America?, discussing the Donald Trump Access Hollywood tape and the Pizzagate conspiracy theory with Baron Cohen's alter ego Billy Wayne Ruddick Jr. Frank eventually walked out of the interview.

On December 8, 2022, Frank, despite being retired from the U.S. Congress, was present on the floor of the House of Representatives when the Respect for Marriage Act was successfully passed.

Personal life

Frank resides in a studio apartment complex in Newton, Massachusetts. His husband, Jim Ready, is a surfing enthusiast whom Frank met during a gay political fundraiser in Maine. On July 7, 2012, Frank married Ready at the Boston Marriott Newton in suburban Boston. Frank's net worth was estimated by OpenSecrets to be between $619,024 and $1,510,000. Frank chose not to participate in the Congressional pension system. He said he did not believe that he would live long enough after retirement to reap benefits over contributions, and that he was convinced that he would remain single and have no beneficiary. His sister, Ann Lewis, served as a senior adviser for the Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign.

Religion

Subsequently, after leaving office, I half jokingly objected when Bill Maher, one of my favorite TV hosts, asked if I felt uncomfortable sitting next to a pot-smoking atheist on the set of his show. I replied that that there were two of us on that stage who fit those categories. The media reached the conclusion that I had come out as an atheist. In fact, I am not an atheist. I don't know enough to have any firm view on the subject, and it has never seemed important to me. I have had a life-long aversion to wrestling with questions that I know I can never answer. My tolerance for intellectual uncertainty is very low.

On August 3, 2013, Frank expressed sympathy with the host's atheism on the television program Real Time with Bill Maher. In his biography, however, Frank states unequivocally that he is not an atheist and is uncomfortable expressing firm views on questions for which he is unable to provide an answer. Frank's agnosticism led him to resolve—if he had been appointed as interim senator—to take the oath of office on the United States Constitution, rather than the Bible. For most of his life and entire congressional career, Frank was known as a Jew. Frank continues to identify strongly with the Jewish community and has been careful throughout his career that his agnosticism not reflect negatively on other Jews. For example, when he stopped going to temple services on the High Holy Days he was careful to remain at home and out of the public eye so that other Jews would not be criticized using his example.

In May 2014, the American Humanist Association awarded Frank the Humanist of the Year and during his acceptance speech he spoke about his personal beliefs and the complexities of working in government. He talked primarily about the politicized case of Terri Schiavo and the public's evolving view about government intrusion into personal healthcare decisions.

That notion, that there was a religious obligation to intervene in human affairs, angered most of the American people. You've got to show people what the implications are of the view that religion should govern our public affairs, as opposed to being merely a personal guide.

Sexuality

According to Stuart Weisberg's 2009 biography Barney Frank: The Story of America's Only Left-Handed, Gay, Jewish Congressman, Frank dated women in an effort to deny his homosexuality. His last romance with a woman was a nearly two-year-long affair with Irish-American Catholic Kathleen Sullivan, a Boston School Committee member and the daughter of former New England Patriots owner Billy Sullivan, that began in 1974. When the two split up, at Frank's instigation, he admitted to her that he was gay. He was still closeted publicly. According to Frank, he "realized it was crazy" to try to have a romance with someone he cared for but was not sexually compatible with due to his homosexuality. "That was the last effort to avoid being gay," Weisberg quotes Frank as saying. Frank never again dated a woman. In 2015, in an interview with Boston Magazine, Frank said it was unfair to Sullivan to date her with him being gay.

Frank started coming out as gay to friends before he ran for Congress and came out publicly on May 30, 1987, "prompted in part by increased media interest in his private life" and the death of Stewart McKinney, "a closeted bisexual Republican representative from Connecticut". Frank told The Washington Post after McKinney's death that there was "An unfortunate debate about 'Was he or wasn't he? Didn't he or did he?' I said to myself, I don't want that to happen to me." Frank's announcement had little impact on his electoral prospects. Shortly after coming out, Frank met and began dating Herb Moses, an economist and LGBT activist; their relationship lasted for eleven years until an amicable break-up in July 1998. Moses, who was an executive at Fannie Mae from 1991 to 1998, was the first partner of an openly gay member of Congress to receive spousal benefits and the two were considered "Washington's most powerful and influential gay couple".

Electoral history

Massachusetts's 4th congressional district: Results 1980–2010
Year Democrat Votes % Republican Votes % Third Party Party Votes % Third Party Party Votes %
1980 Barney Frank 103,466 52% Richard Jones 95,898 48%
1982 Barney Frank 151,305 60% Margaret Heckler 82,804 40%
1984 Barney Frank 172,903 74% Jim Forte 60,121 26%
1986 Barney Frank 134,387 89% No candidate Thomas DeVisscher Independent 16,857 11%
1988 Barney Frank 169,729 70% Debra Tucker 71,661 30%
1990 Barney Frank 143,473 66% John Soto 75,454 34%
1992 Barney Frank 182,633 68% Edward McCormick 70,665 26% Luke Lumina Independent Voters 13,670 5% Dennis Ingalls Freedom for LaRouche 2,797 1%
1994 Barney Frank 168,942 99% No candidate Others 853 1%
1996 Barney Frank 183,844 72% Jonathan Raymond 72,701 28%
1998 Barney Frank 148,340 98% No candidate Others 2,380 2%
2000 Barney Frank 200,638 75% Martin Travis 56,553 21% David Euchner Libertarian 10,553 4%
2002 Barney Frank 166,125 99% No candidate Others 1,691 1%
2004 Barney Frank 219,260 78% No candidate Charles Morse Independent 62,293 22%
2006 Barney Frank 196,513 98% No candidate Others 2,730 1%
2008 Barney Frank 203,032 68% Earl Sholley 75,571 25% Susan Allen Independent 19,848 7%
2010 Barney Frank 126,194 54% Sean Bielat 101,517 43% Susan Allen Independent 3,445 1% Donald Jordan Tax Revolt Independent 2,873 1%

Bibliography

Filmography

See also

Notes

  1. Frank, who was elected to the House in 1980, was the first gay congressional representative to come out on his own. Congressman Gerry Studds had been the only openly gay federal legislator, having survived the revelation during a 1983 Congressional sex scandal that he had had a relationship with a seventeen-year-old male page a decade earlier.

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Further reading

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Massachusetts House of Representatives
Preceded byEliot Wadsworth Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 5th Suffolk district

1973–1979
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