Barney Frank Weds Lover in Massachusetts

Jewish Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts Barney Frank, 72, wed his male partner of five years, carpenter James Ready, 42, in a private ceremony on Saturday, marking the first same-sex marriage conducted by a sitting US congressman.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick officiated at the ceremony at the Boston Marriortt Newton in suburban Boston.  The grooms vowed to love each other through Democratic and Republican administrations alike, as well as through appearances on Fox News, according to a report by Reuters.

Democratic congressman from Texas Al Green described Frank as “beaming”, and said he cried during the ceremony.  News media were not invited.

Frank has been openly gay since the late 1980s.  He has said he will retire at the end of his current term.  He has been a vocal advocate for legalizing same-sex marriage.

Eight of the 50 states and the District of Columbia currently permit gay marriage. Massachusetts was the first.