Barney Frank died at age 86 after entering hospice care in the prior month as his health declined due to congestive heart failure. He served as a Democratic Representative for Massachusetts from 1981 to 2013. He publicly came out as gay in 1987. In 2012, he became the first member of Congress to enter into a same-sex marriage, marrying his longtime partner, Jim Ready. After his death, Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton praised him as a trailblazer and effective legislator. Barack Obama credited him with standing up for LGBTQ+ rights and helping pass major financial reforms designed to protect consumers.
"Former US Congressman Barney Frank died Tuesday evening at the age of 86. He entered hospice care last month as his health declined due to congestive heart failure. The Democrat served as a Representative for Massachusetts from 1981 to 2013. He came out publicly as gay in 1987. In 2012, he became the first member of Congress to enter into a same-sex marriage, marrying his longtime partner, Jim Ready."
"Former President Bill Clinton said, "Barney Frank was a trailblazer, a friend, an ally, an advisor, and an incredibly effective member of Congress for more than 30 years. He was skilled in both policy and politics-a leader on national and local issues alike, equally famed for his constituent services as he was for his legislative ability. His counsel and candor made me a better President, and his tenacity made America stronger, fairer, and more inclusive. My thoughts are with his husband, Jim, his sister, Ann, and everyone who loved him.""
"Hillary Clinton also praised Frank, calling him "a trailblazer, a brilliant legislator, and a champion for American consumers." I was proud to call Barney Frank a friend. He was a trailblazer, a brilliant legislator, and a champion for American consumers. I'll miss his humor, his courage, and his heart, and my thoughts today are with his friends and loved ones.- Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) May 20, 2026"
"Barack Obama called Frank "one of a kind." The former President highlighted how Frank "stood up for the rights of LGBTQ+ Americans, and helped pass one of the most sweeping financial reforms in history designed to protect consumers." Obama shared a photo of himself with Frank and Frank's husband, Jim."
Read at Queerty
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]