Former US congressman Barney Frank, who famously took on Wall Street and made himself one of the first known openly gay representatives, died on Tuesday night, US media reports. He was 86.
Frank, who represented southern Massachusetts in the House of Representatives for over three decades, had been living in hospice care at his home in Maine since April.
He will be remembered as a trailblazer for LGBT rights, being the first member of Congress to enter into a same-sex marriage, and for his instrumental role in overhauling financial regulations after the 2008 financial crisis.
He was, above all else, a wonderful brother. I was lucky to be his sister, Frank's sister Doris Breay told NBC Boston.
Jim Segel, Frank's former campaign manager, shared that he was at peace with himself, having notified everyone of his hospice status. He certainly left a mark, and was a leader on civil rights, on gay rights, and led efforts for other marginalized communities. He helped the country get through the 2008 financial crisis, which was the most significant recession since 1930, Segel stated.
Frank was a major architect of the Dodd-Frank Act, essential for tightening regulations on banks in response to the 2008 Great Recession.
On Capitol Hill, he was a vocal advocate for ending the don't ask, don't tell policy that prevented gay and lesbian servicemembers from serving openly in the military. He also fought for legislation aimed at banning workplace discrimination against LGBT workers, although it ultimately did not pass.
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