Barney Frank was n't the first member of Congress to publicly reveal he was gay , but he was the first to do so voluntarily , he told reporters Tuesday in talking about his decision to retire . Still , Frank said , he did n't come out about his sexuality until he was 47 . `` So I was not the daring young man on the flying trapeze , but it worked out better than I thought , '' he said . A prominent 16-term liberal Democrat from Massachusetts and archenemy of political conservatives nationwide , Frank announced Monday that he does not intend to seek re-election in 2012 . Now 71 , Frank said Tuesday his decision was prompted in part by changes made to the boundaries of his U.S. House district . As part of Massachusetts ' recently concluded redistricting process , Frank 's 4th Congressional District will lose the heavily Democratic blue-collar port city of New Bedford while gaining several smaller , more conservative towns to bring in more than 300,000 new constituents . `` I decided many years ago I will not be here when I 'm 75 , '' Frank said , saying that meant the 2012 election would have been his last . `` Everybody has a last term , and if you 're talking about people that you 've substantially represented , then that 's not an obstacle , '' he said . `` But then I would then be required to go to 325,000 people , some of whom I 've never represented , and areas I 've never been involved in , and say to them , look , here 's the deal -- why do n't you elect me and for the next two years I will be there to receive your problems and , by the way , by the end of 2014 , I 'm going to dump them . '' President Barack Obama issued a statement praising Frank 's public service , calling the congressman a `` fierce advocate for the people of Massachusetts and Americans everywhere who needed a voice . '' While Massachusetts ' entire House delegation is Democratic , local Republicans insist Frank 's retirement will put the reconfigured district in play . `` It is clear that Congressman Frank was not looking forward to another hard-fought campaign after losing his gerrymandered district and spending nearly every penny he had in 2010 , '' Massachusetts Republican Party Executive Director Nate Little said in a written statement . `` Republicans were already gearing up for a strong race and Frank 's sudden retirement injects added optimism and excitement into the election . '' Frank , first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1980 , is the top Democrat on the powerful House Financial Services Committee . The controversial 2010 Dodd-Frank measure , designed to rein in Wall Street excesses after the 2008 financial collapse , passed the House without any GOP support . Frank made headlines earlier in his career by becoming one of the first openly gay members of Congress . He was formally reprimanded by the House in 1990 for allegations of political impropriety relating to his association with a male prostitute . Frank 's current district -- which extends from the affluent , liberal Boston suburbs of Newton and Brookline to the cities of New Bedford and Fall River -- is considered safe Democratic political terrain . Frank did , however , receive an unusually strong challenge from Republican Sean Bielat in 2010 . Frank ultimately defeated Bielat , 54 % to 43 % .
`` It worked out better than I thought , '' Frank says of revealing he is gay . Frank will retire after his current term in Congress . He says he is leaving one term earlier than he first planned . Frank , a Democrat , was first elected to the House from Massachusetts in 1980 .