Barney Frank, a liberal congressman and trailblazer for gay rights, dies

Barney Frank has died. The longtime Democratic congressman from Massachusetts was a leading liberal who brought new visibility to gay rights. He also helped to craft the most significant changes to the financial system in a generation. Frank was both brusque and erudite. He was the first lawmaker to come out as gay voluntarily. Frank recently spoke to The Associated Press and he advised the left-wing of his party to be less purist and more willing to accept compromise as a form of progress. Frank died late Tuesday. He was 86.