Barney Frank (1940 - 2026)

Trailblazer Barney Frank (he/him) will not be soon forgotten. Born in New Jersey, Frank served Massachusetts in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 to 2013. In 1987, he became the first member of Congress to come out as gay voluntarily, an action that helped break the silence surrounding LGBTQIA+ public servants. Frank made history again with his 2012 marriage to his longtime partner - the first sitting member of Congress to marry a same‑sex spouse. Frank wasn’t just bold; he was influential.  As co‑author of the Dodd–Frank Act, he helped craft one of the most significant financial reforms since the Great Depression as it increased oversight of the banking industry, protected consumers, and ended taxpayer-funded bailouts. A tough-minded liberal, Frank had his critics, but he never stopped being newsworthy, always sharp, confident, and humorous. Even at the end of his life, he spoke openly about his regrets, legacy, mortality and how America can rebuild its democracy. His final book, The Hard Path to Unity will be published this fall.