Abse served in the House of Commons for nearly 30 years, championing civil rights for minorities and helping to liberalize divorce laws.

As a Labor Member of Parliament from Wales, Abse introduced a bill in 1967 to abolish the sodomy law. He pressed the issue until the repeal of the law was passed.

The sodomy law was placed on the books in 1885 during the Victorian era. Among the more notable victims of the law was writer Oscar Wilde.

Wilde was accused of sodomy by his former lover the Marquess of Queensberry, known as Bosie. In 1895, Wilde sued for libel and lost. He was subsequently charged with the criminal offense of sodomy, convicted and sentenced to two years in prison with hard labor. Wilde died in 1900.

Abse was born in Cardiff, Wales, the grandson of Jewish immigrants. He went on to become a lawyer with a reputation as a maverick.

During his long parliamentary career, Abse was noted for his flamboyant attire and his ability as a sharp-tongued debater in the Commons.

Abse was fondly remembered Wednesday.

“He was a very distinguished parliamentarian and social reformer who has left an indelible mark on his country,” Wales Secretary Paul Murphy told Britain’s Press Association. “The lives of millions of people over the years have been improved because of his social reforms.”

Abse is survived by his second wife Ania.