Pride Month-Inspired Dog Names

For pet parents looking for an LGBTQ+ name for their dog, "Frank" is a 3-for-1.

When Millennials and Gen Zers hear the name "Frank", they probably picture R&B icon Frank Ocean. In 2012, the singer-songwriter made headlines when he revealed his first love was a man. Ocean has never labeled himself as gay or bisexual, saying that he believes, "life is dynamic and comes along with dynamic experiences." As one of the few openly queer Black male musicians in Hollywood, Ocean has made waves — pun intended! — with his music and public persona.

But before Frank Ocean hit the scene, there were two other Franks working to achieve equity and justice for the LGBTQ+ community. The first is Frank Kameny. Born in 1925, Kameny served as an astronomer in the US Army, but was fired in 1957 because he was gay. Although he lost his appeal, his was the first civil rights case claiming discrimination on the basis of sexuality in the US. Until his death in 2011, Kameny campaigned tirelessly to secure equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Among his long list of achievements include being the first openly gay person to run for Congress.

Another famous Frank in the LGBTQ+ community is Barney Frank. In 1987, he became the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay. He was also the first Congressman to marry someone of the same sex while in office. Frank also founded the National Stonewall Democratic Federation in 1998, a faction of the Democratic Party that focuses on LGBTQ+ rights.

So if you're searching for a classic dog name with strong ties to the LGBTQ+ community, Frank is the "pawfect" choice!