Barney Frank, Pioneering Gay Congressman, Dies at 86

Barney Frank, the longtime Democratic congressman and leading liberal who brought new visibility to gay rights and crafted the most significant reforms to the financial system in a generation, has died at 86. - Frank died late Tuesday in Ogunquit, Maine, where he had entered hospice in April with congestive heart failure.

- He was the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay in 1987 and the first incumbent to marry someone of the same sex in 2012. - Frank co-authored the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, imposing new regulations on banks after the 2008 financial crisis.

- He was known for his acerbic wit, combative style, and focus on marginalized communities, but also for his pragmatic approach to legislation. Frank's legacy includes pioneering LGBT rights and major financial reforms, but he also urged Democrats to avoid making unpopular parts of their agenda litmus tests.