Frank served Massachusetts in Congress for 32 years and became one of the first openly gay members of Congress after coming out in 1987. He was widely known for his sharp wit, outspoken personality, and strong support for civil rights and progressive causes.
As chairman of the House Financial Services Committee during the 2008 financial crisis, Barney Frank helped create the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act to strengthen banking oversight and prevent another economic collapse.
Born in New Jersey and educated at Harvard University, Frank was inspired by the civil rights movement and later took part in Freedom Summer voter registration efforts in Mississippi.
He retired from Congress in 2013 and later lived in Maine with his husband, Jim Ready.