Barney Frank, former Massachusetts congressman and gay rights advocate, dies at 86

Barney Frank, a Massachusetts Democrat who served in Congress for 32 years, died Tuesday at age 86. Frank was first elected to the House in 1980 and rose to become chairman of the House Financial Services Committee. In that role he helped shape legislation aimed at regulating the financial industry after the 2008 collapse.

He represented a Massachusetts district until retiring in 2013. Colleagues described him as knowledgeable on financial matters and active on housing and health issues. Frank was often noted for his direct style during committee hearings and floor debates. He remained engaged in political discussion after leaving office.

Frank was one of the first sitting members of Congress to come out voluntarily as gay. He married his husband in 2012. He also worked on legislation related to HIV/AIDS and housing policy. In recent months, while receiving hospice care, he continued to comment on political matters.

He served in the Massachusetts House before winning his congressional seat. Frank had previously faced an ethics inquiry related to a 1989 report by The Washington Times. The House ethics committee ultimately issued him a reprimand but cleared him of involvement in the activities described in the report.

He wrote in a 2015 memoir that his interest in public service was influenced by the 1955 lynching of Emmett Till.