He may be retiring, but for Democratic Rep. Barney Frank a new life is just beginning: On Saturday, Frank wed longtime boyfriend, James Ready, in a ceremony presided over by Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick.
In attendance were a number of Democratic powerhouses, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate hopeful Elizabeth Warren. Rep Al Green (D-TX) told MSNBC:
“Barney was beaming,” said Green, who attended the ceremony. He added that Frank, a champion of gay rights and the sweeping reform of Wall Street, shed a tear during the ceremony.
After exchanging their vows, Frank and Ready embraced each other, Green said. “It was no different than any other wedding I’ve attended when you have two people who are in love with each other,” Green said.
The ceremony, at the Marriott in Newton, MA, makes Frank, 72, the first sitting congressman to enter into a same-sex marriage. He was also one of the first members of Congress to come out, publicly discussing his sexuality in the mid-1980s after a scandal involving his aide and an escort ring.
Widely respected on both sides of the aisle, Frank has served as a chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and passionate about financial reform, fishing rights and LGBT equality. In 2004, his home state of Massachusetts became the first state to allow gay and lesbian couples to marry.
1equalityUSA
Congratulations on your marriage. I wish you the best of health, peace, and happiness.
Frank
@Aquarelle: Right, so you’d better start looking for a place for your own…eventually you’ll get to be old….that is unless you die of an STD
MikeE
@Aquarelle: oh look! an internet troll! how terribly, terribly original.
Go hide under your bridge.
GOProudest
@MikeE: Oh look, a tired Queerty queen substituting sarcasm for actual wit, and snark for actual substance. Yeah, you’re not a cliché at all.
mainiacbill
Congratulations Barney and James. May you have a long and HAPPY life together
Mike , I was always told “If you can’t say something nice, then hold your tongue”.
Wilson
Awwww…and it only took 72 years. How inspirational? Get that money James! Not mad at it. LOL
Matt
Just wait the other Greg will chime in and claim how Barney Frank is a Sugar Daddy and his partner/husband is “Kept”.
Charlie
Congratulations!
Colin
@Matt: Why wouldn’t it be true? It’s the same with Elton and his partner.
MikeE
@mainiacbill: did you see the comment I was referring to? You wouldn’t be attacking ME if you had read it.
That “Aquarelle” person is despicable.
MikeE
@GOProudest: oh look a self-hating republican tossing irrelevant “insults” at people he doesn’t know, with no idea of what the situation is either. how typical.
Robert Giannini
Sarcastic bitches exist for the internet, where they can hide and be anonymous.
Congratulations to Mr. Frank and James Ready on their wedding. One day this will no longer be a “news” event but a generally accepted one. Many happy days ahead of you.
UsualPlayers
@MikeE: Word to the wise, MikeE: GOProudest and Aquarelle are the same person. He (it?) also posts under the name “Colin.”
Maria
@Usual Players-That guy also posts under the name “the other Greg”.
Shadeaux
Congrats Barney… YOU DAMN COUGAR!!!!
EGO
Congratulations Barney and James! My partner and I have been together 50 years and married 8 years in Massachusetts. I also am a Navy Vet and we are both retired.
Now if we can just get the illogical DOMA law repealed we can have FED equality! :>)
Eric Osterberg and George Patty