Retired Rep. Barney Frank, a PFLAG National Champion of Justice, Has Passed

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Today, we learned of the passing of former Congressman Barney Frank of Massachusetts (MA-4, 1981-2013, Ret.), who died at the age of 86. Frank was not only the first openly gay Member of Congress, he was co-author of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010 as Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, which helped enshrine housing access for LGBTQ+ people. He was also a leading advocate on laws to combat HIV/AIDS. PFLAG National honored Frank in 2018 among other openly LGBTQ+ lawmakers with the Champion of Justice award. He is survived by his husband Jim Ready.

“Former Member of Congress Barney Frank’s legacy stretches beyond the landmark Dodd-Frank Act to include many laws to advance prevention, detection, and treatment of HIV/AIDS. We remember Barney as a trailblazer who was the first Member of Congress to come out as gay, and who moved many pieces of civil rights legislation forward. Sadly, his legacy is also marred by his own actions and failures on behalf of transgender people.

PFLAG National has chosen a different path than Barney many times over the years to ensure trans, nonbinary, and intersex people are never left behind. This is why the LGBTQ+ people, parents, family members, and allies who are part of PFLAG continue to fight, from Capitol Hill to city council, to ensure every LGBTQ+ person has the freedom to be themselves and to thrive – always.”

—Brian K. Bond (he/him), CEO of PFLAG National