Barney Frank, former congressman and gay-rights pioneer, dies at 86 - BERITAJA

US Rep. Barney Frank,D-MA, president of the US House Financial Services Committee conducts hearings connected "Financial Market Regulatory Restructuring." July 10, 2008 connected Capitol Hill successful Washington, DC. KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images

KAREN BLEIER/AFP via Getty Images

Barney Frank, the wide icon and gay-rights pioneer who represented Massachusetts successful Congress for much than 3 decades, died Tuesday nighttime astatine his home, according to a adjacent friend who confirmed his decease to personnel position GBH.

He was 86 years aged and had been receiving hospice attraction for congestive bosom failure.

Recently asked by GBH if he wished he could do complete immoderate portion of his career, Frank replied: "I would person travel retired earlier."

Read GBH's afloat remembrance here.

Frank's past connection for Democrats

Barney Frank speaks during PFLAG National's Love Takes Justice arena astatine AFT Headquarters connected November 18, 2025 successful Washington, DC. Paul Morigi/Getty Images/Getty Images

Paul Morigi/Getty Images/Getty Images

WBUR's Anthony Brooks spoke pinch Frank while successful hospice astatine his location successful Ogunquit, Maine, wherever he lives pinch his husband, Jim Ready.

In their conversation, Frank shared an urgent connection for Democrats hoping to bounce backmost from Trump.

He says Democrats person a chance to conclusion President Donald Trump's marque of right-wing populism, but only if the statement embraces halfway economical issues alternatively of polarizing civilization fights.

Read much from their speech here.

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