Robert Barnes, 42; Influential Bay Area Gay Political Consultant

Robert Barnes, 42, one of San Francisco’s most influential gay political consultants, died Friday at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. The cause of death was complications from Guillain-Barre syndrome, a neurological disease similar to multiple sclerosis.

The son of a machinist and labor activist, Barnes founded one of the nation’s first teenage gay clubs when he was a student at his native San Francisco’s Lowell High School. He also helped organize student opposition to an initiative that would have banned gay teachers in state schools.

After unsuccessful attempts to win his own seat on the city’s Board of Education in the early 1980s, Barnes turned his attention to working behind the political scenes. He has since been credited with helping win seats for more gay and lesbian candidates than any other political consultant in the country.