Former Rep. Barney Frank, champion of Wall Street reform and LGBTQ trailblazer, dies at 86
Former Congressman Barney Frank, a significant figure in Wall Street reform and LGBTQ rights, has passed away at the age of 86. He served in the House for over 30 years and was instrumental in the creation of the Dodd-Frank Act following the 2008 financial crisis. Frank was also a trailblazer for openly gay politicians, being the first member of Congress to enter into a same-sex marriage.
- ▪Barney Frank served southern Massachusetts in the House for 32 years.
- ▪He co-authored the Dodd-Frank Act, which aimed to increase regulation on Wall Street after the 2008 crisis.
- ▪Frank was the first member of Congress to enter into a same-sex marriage in 2012.
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BREAKING NEWSMay. 20, 2026, 1:38 PM UTCU.S. newsU.S. newsFormer Rep. Barney Frank, champion of Wall Street reform and LGBTQ trailblazer, dies at 86The most prominent gay member of Congress of his generation, the Democrat represented southern Massachusetts in the House for more than 30 years.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Rep. Barney Frank in 1991.Maureen Keating / CQ Archive via APShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Daniel ArkinBarney Frank, the quick-witted Massachusetts congressman and liberal lion who helped overhaul Wall Street regulations after the 2008 financial crisis and made history as one of the first openly gay members of Congress, died Wednesday, his sister confirmed to NBC Boston.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and…
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