'The Republicans have become pretty strongly anti-gay' he said. And the average American has learned that he isn't homophobic he just thought he was supposed to be.'īut while Frank has seen prejudice decline he said broader Congressional action - including a federal anti-discrimination law - will be difficult to pass. We're just pretty much like everybody else. 'As we acknowledge who we are it turns out there's really nothing to the stereotypes. 'Prejudice against us has by and large diminished substantially' Frank said. Vermont recognized same-sex civil unions and just this week the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court became the first in the country to rule the ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. States have adopted laws allowing same-sex couples to adopt children and prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation. Since then the federal government has dropped regulations blocking gay immigrants from entering the country and preventing gays from getting security clearances. 'Twenty years ago the notion of any legal recognition of gay relationships was out of the question' Frank said. 'And that has a huge impact on members and those that know him particularly on the Republican side.'įrank acknowledged the progress since he's been in elected office. 'What Barney has brought to this is a human face - it's not Barney Frank the gay male it's Barney Frank my friend' said Delahunt a Democrat. Since then said Delahunt 'there has been a progression in terms of dealing with it and now he's so comfortable with it.' 'He dated a woman for some time' Delahunt recalled.īut in May 1987 when a reporter asked if he was gay the always blunt Frank relied 'If you ask the direct question 'Are you gay?' the answer is 'Yes. William Delahunt - now also a member of Congress - said colleagues only suspected Frank was gay. In 1973 when Frank was first elected to the Statehouse fellow state Rep. And he was reprimanded by the House in 1990 for using his influence on behalf of a male prostitute. They have faced anti-gay sentiment both personally and politically from opponents and even from fellow members of Congress.įrank has sparred intermittently with GOP conservatives including former House Majority Leader Dick Armey R-Texas who referred to him as 'Barney Fag' during an interview but later apologized.

And they have been consistently willing to step up to the plate.'īut it was a difficult road. 'They are dealing with their colleagues on a day-to-day basis. 'Having openly gay members of Congress is very powerful - it is one of the most powerful things we can have' said Barbara Menard deputy political director of the Human Rights Campaign an activist organization for gay and lesbian issues. Jim Kolbe of Arizona and others before them have helped gay and lesbian issues gain acceptance in Congress and nationwide. But activists this week said the efforts of Frank Rep. And his journey to political forefront as an openly gay lawmaker has paralleled the progress of that civil rights crusade. Three decades later as Massachusetts stands on the brink of recognizing same-sex unions Frank now a Democratic congressman has become one of the most powerful national spokesmen for gay rights. WASHINGTON - When Barney Frank was a freshman state legislator in the mid-1970s sharing an office in the Massachusetts capitol his sexual preference was no public matter.

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