Celebrity Friday: U.S. Rep. Barney Frank Marries

Barney Frank, 72, the longtime openly gay Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts, married his longtime partner, Jim Ready, 42, last weekend in Newton, MA. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick officiated the wedding.

The New York Times reported the news:

Mr. Frank, 72, and Mr. Ready, 42, were married in Newton, Mass., part of Mr. Frank’s district, on Saturday in a low-key ceremony on the banks of the Charles River. Gov. Deval L. Patrick of Massachusetts officiated. The guests included Representative Nancy Pelosi, the House minority leader, as well as Senator John Kerry and Representatives Dennis J. Kucinich and Steny H. Hoyer. 

Mr. Frank, Democrat of Massachusetts, became, in 1987, the first sitting member of Congress to volunteer that he was gay. He is now the first to be married to a partner of the same sex. Both bridegrooms said they recognized the historical significance of the ceremony, which lasted less than five minutes. Governor Patrick told the guests that Mr. Frank had requested that the service “be short and to the point.”

Talking Points Memo has the text of the wedding vows and more photos of the happy couple.