BREAKING: Former MA congressman Barney Frank dies at 86

Former Massachusetts Democrat Congressman Barney Frank died at the age of 86 in hospice care. He was being treated for congestive heart failure in Maine. 

"He was, above all else, a wonderful brother, I was lucky to be his sister," said Frank's sister Doris Breay. She and a family friend had announced the former representative's passing.

Frank told local news earlier in May, "It's not fun facing the death sentence, but it becomes less—frankly, less depressing, less of an emotional attack, when it's offset by all of these very generous comments."

Frank was among the first ever openly gay members of Congress and was part of several scandals regarding his sexuality and choice of sexual partners. He had been outspoken during his final days about the issue of trans rights, saying that the Democrat Party should stop prioritizing it.

"That's the approach the transgender community should take to male-to-female transgenders playing in women's sports," he said. "That's very controversial. Other issues are, I think, more important, but also less toxic, like getting good meidcal care, guaranteeing that for people, guaranteeing the right to designate their genders, and they should put off the most controversial."

He was born in New Jersey and served the state of Massachusetts beginning in 1980.