Barney Frank, a liberal congressman and trailblazer for gay rights, dies
AP News • • nation
Key Points:
- Barney Frank, a longtime Democratic congressman known for advancing gay rights and leading major financial reforms, has died at age 86 after entering hospice with congestive heart failure.
- Frank was the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay in 1987 and the first incumbent lawmaker to marry a same-sex partner in 2012, becoming a pioneering figure in LGBT rights.
- He played a key role in crafting the Dodd-Frank Act, the most significant financial reform since the New Deal, aimed at increasing consumer protections and regulating banks after the 2008 economic crisis.
- Known for his sharp wit and pragmatic politics, Frank advocated for progressive change through conventional political methods and cautioned against imposing unpopular policies too quickly.
- After 32 years in Congress, Frank retired in 2012 but remained politically active, including as a critic of Donald Trump, and is survived by his husband Jim Ready and siblings.