Barney Frank

Frank was born in Bayonne, New Jersey, one of four children of Elsie (née Golush) and Samuel Frank.{{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=The Hill |access-date=September 8, 2009}}{{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 }} His family was Jewish, and his grandparents had emigrated from Poland and Russia.{{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 }} 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.Bruce Watson, Freedom Summer: The Savage Season That Made Mississippi Burn and Made America a Democracy, at 161–162 (Viking 2010). 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,{{YouTube|_9J9lw2MSG0|Speech at the Council of Foreign Relations}}, November 14, 2011 while serving as a Massachusetts state representative.

In 1972, Frank was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives where he served for eight years.{{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=Internet Archive }}{{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+ }}{{cite book |title=1977–1978 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |url= https://archive.org/details/publicofficersof19771978bost |year=1977 |via=Internet Archive }}{{cite book |title=1979-1980 Public Officers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts |location= Boston |url= https://archive.org/details/publicofficersof19791980bost/mode/2up }} 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.{{cite news |title=A Frank Suggestion: Hookers in the Financial District |work=Boston Herald-American |date=November 25, 1976}}{{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 }}

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.

File:1981 Barney Frank p62.jpg

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.{{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}}{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/massachusettsele1980mass |title=Massachusetts Election Results, 1980|year=1980}} As the Democratic nominee, he faced Republican Richard A. Jones in the general election and won narrowly, 52–48%.{{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=United States Government Printing Office |year=1981}}{{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}}

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.{{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}}

Frank did not face another serious race again for a quarter-century.{{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=The Advocate |date=January 13, 2009 |access-date=December 11, 2008 |url-status=dead }} From 1984 to 2008, he won re-election 12 times with at least 66% of the vote;{{cite web|url=http://www.ourcampaigns.com/CandidateDetail.html?CandidateID=982 |title=Candidate – Barney Frank |publisher=Our Campaigns |access-date=December 1, 2011}} in 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006, this was with a more than overwhelming 97% of the vote, with no challenge from a major political party, while in 1986 and 2004 he was opposed only by independent candidates, with the Republicans declining to field a candidate against him.

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.{{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}} In mid-September, an internal poll showed Frank leading 48–38%.{{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 | Sean Bielat for Congress |publisher=Seanbielat.org |date=September 22, 2010 |access-date=December 1, 2011 |url-status=usurped |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}} In late October, he loaned his campaign $200,000.{{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}} 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.{{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}} On October 25, a survey by The Boston Globe showed Frank leading 46–33%.{{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}} Frank won re-election to his 16th term, 54–43%.{{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}}

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

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.{{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}}{{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=Time|volume=134|issue=13|page=24|access-date=July 20, 2024}} 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."{{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}} 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.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." The House voted 408–18 to reprimand Frank.{{cite web |url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/1990/roll271.xml |title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 271 |publisher=United States House of Representatives|access-date=July 20, 2024}}{{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}}

The attempts to censure and expel Frank were led by Republican Larry Craig.{{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 }}Outrage (2009), Kirby Dick, writer and director; Amy Ziering, producer; Douglas Blush and Matthew Clarke, editors; Chain Camera Pictures; Magnolia Pictures, distributor.{{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=Salon.com |date=May 7, 2009}} Eventually, Frank would criticize Craig for hypocrisy after Craig's own arrest in 2007 for lewd conduct in a public restroom.{{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}} 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.{{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}}

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.{{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}} 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.{{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}} This work has since been included in the film canon, and is now considered to be a classic.[https://lccn.loc.gov/2007310500 Let's Get Frank (2003) - Library of Congress (LOC)][https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150699956 Let's Get Frank (2003) - British Film Institute (BFI)]

"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.{{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 }} 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".{{cite web|title=Frank Part of Starr Review |publisher=PlanetOut Inc. |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 }} Despite being on opposites sides during the impeachment, Frank was good friends with representative Henry Hyde praising his efforts to keep the impeachment "personality free".{{cite news| title= Rep. Barney Frank, Minority Wit |author= Sally Quinn |newspaper= The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/special/clinton/stories/frank121898.htm}}

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.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonian.com/2006/09/01/best-and-worst-of-congress/ |title=Best and Worst of Congress |work=Washingtonian |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}} In 2008, the same survey named him "brainiest", and runner up for "workhorse", and "most eloquent";{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonian.com/blogarticles/people/capitalcomment/9097.html|title=Washingtonian's Best & Worst of Congress|work=Washingtonian|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}} in 2010, he was named "brainiest", "workhorse", and "funniest".{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonian.com/print/articles/6/0/16736.html|title=2010 Best & Worst of Congress|work=Washingtonian|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}} He is also widely considered to have been, during his tenure, one of the most powerful or smart members of Congress.{{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=Out |date=April 2009 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/barney-frank-on-bailouts-welfare/|title=Barney Frank on Bailouts, Welfare|work=60 Minutes|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}}{{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}} 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."{{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=[https://archive.org/details/ripplesofhopegre00gott/page/463 463]|author-link=Josh Gottheimer }}

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.{{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}} 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.{{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 }} 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."{{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}}

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.Morgenson and Rosner 2011, pp. 69-70.

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."SEC filing, Fannie Mae, Form 10-K, 2006. [http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/Fannie_Mae_(FNMA)/Filing/10-K/2006/Form_10-K/D43015#114 Filing archived at Wikinvest] {{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 }}, [https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/310522/000095013306005230/0000950133-06-005230.txt unformatted data at the SEC.] 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 [me] in particular" for the subprime mortgage crisis, which is linked to the 2008 financial crisis. 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.{{cite web

|url=http://democrats.financialservices.house.gov/press/PRArticle.aspx?NewsID=465

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|archive-date=September 15, 2012

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}} 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 [Bush] 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 [Bush] administration had cooperated."{{citation needed|date=November 2014}}

As former chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, beginning in 2007, Frank was "at the center of power".{{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=The Advocate |date=September 9, 2008 |page=24}} Frank has been a critic of aspects of the Federal Reserve system, partnering with some Republicans in opposition to some policies.{{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 }} 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.{{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 }} In 2008 Frank supported passage of the American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act, intended to protect thousands of homeowners from foreclosure. This law, {{USBill|110|H.R.|3221}}, is considered one of the most important and complex issues on which he worked.{{cite web|url=http://financialservices.house.gov/FHA.html |title=Information about the American Housing Rescue & Foreclosure Prevention Act |publisher=United States House Committee on Financial Services |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100708001511/http://financialservices.house.gov/FHA.html |archive-date=July 8, 2010 |url-status=dead }} 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."{{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 }} Frank was also instrumental in the passage of {{USBill|110|H.R.|5244}}, the Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2008, a measure that drew praise from editorial boards and consumer advocates.{{Cite news|date=March 29, 2008|title=Plastic Card Tricks|newspaper=The New York Times|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}}{{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}}{{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 }} 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.[https://web.archive.org/web/20120223082030/http://www.ancor.org/issues/housing/Section811ReformFactSheet03-27-09.pdf Increase Housing Opportunities for People with Disabilities! Co-Sponsor H.R. 1675: The Frank Melville Supportive Housing Investment Act] 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.{{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}}

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.{{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}} 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.{{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 }}

File:Barney Frank in Congressional office.jpg

In 2009 Frank had a 100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America, indicating a pro-choice voting record.{{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 }} He voted against the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act,{{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}} against the Unborn Victims of Violence Act{{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}} 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".{{cite web |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank.htm |publisher=On the Issues |title=Barney Frank on Abortion}} In 2006, he co-sponsored the "Compassionate Assistance for Rape Emergencies Act" (S.3945) (06-S3945), a bill for "emergency contraception for rape victims".{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Abortion |publisher=On the Issues |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Abortion.htm}} 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".

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.{{cite web |url=http://www.ncrr-la.org/NCRR_archives/welcome_intro.htm |title=Intro |publisher=NCRR – Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress}}{{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 }} In 2001, Frank co-sponsored an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to apply equal rights based on gender differences.{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Civil Rights |publisher=On the Issues |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Civil_Rights.htm}} 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 [make the] claim [that] America is hypocritical."{{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 }} 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.{{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=The New York Times}} 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[s]", reforming earlier immigration law which allowed persons to be excluded for a sexual deviance "afflict[ion]".{{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 }} 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."{{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}} 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.{{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 }} 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."{{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 }} 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.{{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}} 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."{{cite web|title=Real Time with Bill Maher: Episode Guide – episode 86 |publisher=HBO |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 }}

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.

In 2000, Frank was rated at 89% by Citizens United for Rehabilitation of Errants, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes.{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Crime |publisher=On the Issues |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Crime.htm}} He co-sponsored "Innocence Protection Act of 2001" (H.R. 912, S.486) to "reduce the risk that innocent persons may be executed [by examining DNA evidence more thoroughly]" 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).

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.{{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 }} 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.{{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}} 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).{{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}} On June 23, 2011, Frank introduced the Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act to remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act.{{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}} 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."{{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=CNN Newsroom |date=July 30, 2008}} In 2003, he was rated "A" by Vote Hemp, indicating a pro-hemp voting record.{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Drugs |publisher=On the Issues |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Drugs.htm}} 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."

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.{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Technology |publisher=On the Issues |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Technology.htm}} That same year, he co-sponsored overturning FCC approval of media consolidation (S.J.RES.28&H.J.RES.79 2008-SJR28).

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".{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on the Environment |publisher=On the Issues |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Environment.htm}} 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".

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).{{cite web |title=Barney Frank on Homeland Security |publisher=On the Issues |url=http://www.ontheissues.org/MA/Barney_Frank_Homeland_Security.htm}} 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."{{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}} 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.{{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}} 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.{{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=Countdown with Keith Olbermann |publisher=MSNBC |year=2010}}

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.{{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 }}{{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 }} To restore online gambling rights, in 2007 Frank sponsored H.R. 2046, the Internet Gambling Regulation and Enforcement Act.{{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 }} 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.{{Cite news |last=Viser |first=Matt |title=Unlikely ace for online gambling |newspaper=The Boston Globe |date=July 13, 2008 |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/07/13/unlikely_ace_for_online_gambling/?page=1}}

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".{{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=The Daily Californian}} 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."{{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=Jewish Telegraphic Agency}}

In the wake of the fiscal cliff legislation at the start of 2013, Frank stated{{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=The Washington Post|date=January 4, 2013|access-date=January 30, 2013}} 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{{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}} 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 [fiscal cliff] 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.Orol, Ronald D. (January 4, 2013). [http://blogs.marketwatch.com/election/2013/01/04/retired-rep-barney-frank-bank-reform-author-wants-u-s-senate-seat-now/ "Retired Rep. Barney Frank, bank-reform author, wants U.S. Senate seat now"]. MarketWatch. Retrieved January 4, 2013.Seelye, Katharine Q., [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/31/us/politics/boston-lawyer-chosen-for-kerrys-senate-seat.html "Governor Names Longtime Friend to Kerry's Seat"], New York Times, January 30, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2013.

Frank joined the board of directors of the New York-based Signature Bank on June 17, 2015.Ensign, Rachel Louise, [https://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2015/06/17/barney-frank-yes-that-barney-frank-joins-a-bank-board/ "Barney Frank–Yes, THAT Barney Frank–Joins a Bank Board"], The Wall Street Journal, June 17, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.{{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}}

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.[https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/house-poised-pass-bill-protecting-same-sex-interracial/story?id=94494928]

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.{{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}} On July 7, 2012, Frank married Ready at the Boston Marriott Newton in suburban Boston.{{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}} Frank's net worth was estimated by OpenSecrets to be between $619,024 and $1,510,000.{{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=OpenSecrets}} 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.{{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 }} His sister, Ann Lewis, served as a senior adviser for the Hillary Clinton 2008 presidential campaign.{{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}}

{{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 atheism on the television program Real Time with Bill Maher.{{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}} 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{{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}} 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.{{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}}

{{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.}}

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.{{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 = University of Massachusetts Press|isbn = 9781558497214}} In 2015, in an interview with Boston Magazine, Frank said it was unfair to Sullivan to date her with him being gay.{{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}}

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."{{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 }}{{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}}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. Frank's announcement had little impact on his electoral prospects.{{Cite news |last=Pierce |first=Charles P. |title=To Be Frank |newspaper=Globe Magazine |date=October 2, 2005 |url=https://www.boston.com/news/globe/magazine/articles/2005/10/02/to_be_frank/}} 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.{{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 (Associated Press) |date=July 3, 1998 |access-date=January 19, 2010}}{{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 }} 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".

{{s-start}}

|+ {{ushr|Massachusetts|4|}}: Results 1980–2010{{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 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.fec.gov/pubrec/electionresults.shtml|title=Election Results|publisher=Federal Election Commission }}

! Year

!

! Democrat

! Votes

! %

!

! Republican

! Votes

! %

!

! Third Party

! Party

! Votes

! %

!

! Third Party

! Party

! Votes

! %

!

|-

|1980

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |103,466

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |52%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |Richard Jones

|{{party shading/Republican}} |95,898

|{{party shading/Republican}} |48%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|1982

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |151,305

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |60%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |Margaret Heckler

|{{party shading/Republican}} |82,804

|{{party shading/Republican}} |40%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|1984

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |172,903

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |74%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |Jim Forte

|{{party shading/Republican}} |60,121

|{{party shading/Republican}} |26%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|1986

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |134,387

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |89%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |No candidate

|{{party shading/Republican}} |

|{{party shading/Republican}} |

|

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Thomas DeVisscher

|{{party shading/Independent}} |Independent

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |16,857

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |11%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|1988

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |169,729

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |70%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |Debra Tucker

|{{party shading/Republican}} |71,661

|{{party shading/Republican}} |30%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|1990

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |143,473

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |66%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |John Soto

|{{party shading/Republican}} |75,454

|{{party shading/Republican}} |34%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|1992

||

|{{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}} |Freedom for LaRouche

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,797

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1%

|

|-

|1994

||

|{{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}} |

|

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Others

|{{party shading/Independent}} |

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |853

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |1%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|1996

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |183,844

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |72%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |Jonathan Raymond

|{{party shading/Republican}} |72,701

|{{party shading/Republican}} |28%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|1998

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |148,340

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |98%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |No candidate

|{{party shading/Republican}} |

|{{party shading/Republican}} |

|

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Others

|{{party shading/Independent}} |

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2,380

|{{Party shading/Independent}} align="right" |2%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|2000

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |200,638

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |75%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |Martin Travis

|{{party shading/Republican}} |56,553

|{{party shading/Republican}} |21%

|

|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |David Euchner

|{{Party shading/Libertarian}} |Libertarian

|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |10,553

|{{party shading/Libertarian}} |4%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|2002

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |166,125

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |99%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |No candidate

|{{party shading/Republican}} |

|{{party shading/Republican}} |

|

|{{party shading/Independent}} |Others

|{{party shading/Independent}} |

|{{party shading/Independent}} |1,691

|{{party shading/Independent}} |1%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|2004

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |219,260

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |78%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |No candidate

|{{party shading/Republican}} |

|{{party shading/Republican}} |

|

|{{Party shading/Independent}} |Charles Morse

|{{party shading/Independent}} |Independent

|{{party shading/Independent}} |62,293

|{{party shading/Independent}} |22%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|2006

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |196,513

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |98%

|

|{{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%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|2008

||

|{{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}} |Independent

|{{party shading/Independent}} |19,848

|{{party shading/Independent}} |7%

|

|

|

|

|

|

|-

|2010

||

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |Barney Frank

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |126,194

|{{party shading/Democratic}} |54%

|

|{{party shading/Republican}} |Sean Bielat

|{{party shading/Republican}} |101,517

|{{party shading/Republican}} |43%

|

|{{party shading/Independent}} |Susan Allen

|{{party shading/Independent}} |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}}

• [https://books.google.com/books?id=FeWOGwAACAAJ Financing Foreign Aid: A Case Study in the Budgetary Process] (1962)
• [https://books.google.com/books?id=9g1BGwAACAAJ Budget for a Strong America] (1989)
• [https://archive.org/details/speakingfranklyw00fran Speaking Frankly: What's Wrong with the Democrats and How to Fix It] (1992)
• [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/194550.Improper_Bostonians Improper Bostonians: Lesbian and Gay History from the Puritans to Playland (Foreword by Barney Frank)] (2000)
• "American Immigration Law: A Case Study in the Effective Use of the Political Process" in J. D'Emilio (Ed.), [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1184239.Creating_Change Creating Change: Sexuality, Public Policy, and Civil Rights (pp 208-235).] St. Martin's Press (2000)
• [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/656001.Positively_Gay Positively Gay: New Approaches to Gay and Lesbian Life (Foreword by Barney Frank)] (2001)
• [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19504729-dodd-frank-wall-street-reform-and-consumer-protection-act-or-hr-4173 "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act or HR 4173 (with 111th Congress and Christopher J. Dodd)"] (2010)
• [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10367700-crossing-the-barriers Crossing the Barriers: The Autobiography of Allan H. Spear (Foreword by Barney Frank)] (2010)
• [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8305903-on-the-brink On the Brink: Inside the Race to Stop the Collapse of the Global Financial System (Foreword by Barney Frank)] (2011)
• [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30825332-time-on-two-crosses Time on Two Crosses: The Collected Writings of Bayard Rustin (Afterword by Barney Frank)"] (2014)
• [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22237165-frank Frank: A Life in Politics from the Great Society to Same-Sex Marriage] (2015)
• [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/49432910-dodd-frank-wall-street-reform-and-consumer-protection-act-hr-4173 "Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, HR 4173 (with 111th Congress and Christopher J. Dodd)"] (2017)
• "The Economic and Political Implications of the Dodd-Frank Act" in S. O'Halloran & T. Groll (Eds.), [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50830288-after-the-crash After the Crash: Financial Crises and Regulatory Responses (pp 261-280). ] Columbia University Press (2019)

• [https://lccn.loc.gov/2007310500 Let's Get Frank (2003)] by Bart Everly (executive produced by Jonathan Van Meter, co-produced by Ruth Rachel Anderson-Avraham), Library of Congress (LOC) Catalog
• [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2452352/ Compared to What: The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank (2014)] by Sheila Canavan and Michael Chandler, IMDb

• LGBT culture in Boston
• List of Jewish members of the United States Congress
• List of LGBT members of the United States Congress
• List of federal political scandals in the United States
• List of federal political sex scandals in the United States
• List of United States representatives expelled, censured, or reprimanded

{{Reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{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 = Farrar, Straus and Giroux|isbn = 9780374280307}}
• {{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 = University of Nebraska Press|pages = [https://archive.org/details/americanjewsamer00rutt/page/55 55]–64|isbn = 9780803264755}}
• {{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 = University of Massachusetts Press|isbn = 9781558497214}}

{{refend}}

{{Sister project links|wikt=no|v=no|s=author:Barney Frank|b=no|n=no}}

• {{C-SPAN|762}}
• {{CongLinks|congbio=f000339|votesmart=26897|fec=H0MA04036|congress=}}
• [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1204889/ Filmography] on IMDb (the Internet Movie Database)

{{s-start}}

{{s-par|us-ma-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Eliot Wadsworth}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 5th Suffolk district|years=1973–1979}}

{{s-aft|after=Daniel Pokaski}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Francis Dailey}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives
from the 8th Suffolk district|years=1979–1981}}

{{s-aft|after=Thomas Vallely}}

|-

{{s-par|us-hs}}

{{s-bef|before=Robert Drinan}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
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{{s-aft|after=Joe Kennedy}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=John LaFalce}}

{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee|years=2003–2007}}

{{s-aft|rows=2|after=Spencer Bachus}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Mike Oxley}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the House Financial Services Committee|years=2007–2011}}

|-

{{s-new|office}}

{{s-ttl|title=Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus|years=2008–2013|alongside=Tammy Baldwin}}

{{s-aft|after=Jared Polis}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Spencer Bachus}}

{{s-ttl|title=Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee|years=2011–2013}}

{{s-aft|after=Maxine Waters}}

|-

{{s-prec|usa}}

{{s-bef|before=Tom Petri|as=Former US Representative}}

{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
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{{s-aft|after=Eliot Engel|as=Former US Representative}}

{{s-end}}

{{Members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts}}

{{US House Financial Services chairs}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Frank, Barney}}

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