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Barney Frank Marries Longtime Partner (PHOTOS, VOWS)

Sahil Kapur July 8, 2012, 10:25 AM

Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) married his longtime partner Jim Ready in a small Saturday ceremony in Newton, Mass. on the banks of the Charles River.

Back in 1987, Frank was the first member of Congress to reveal himself as openly gay. Now he’s the first member of Congress to wed a same sex partner. He has served in the House since 1981 retiring at the end of his term.

Frank, 72, and Ready, 42, met at a 2005 fundraiser.

The ceremony was conducted at the Boston Marriott hotel by the state’s governor, Deval Patrick, and was attended by 300 family members, friends and colleagues. They were married at 6:25 P.M.

Below are photos and text of the wedding, as sent over by Frank’s office (image credit: Fotique).

TEXT OF THE WEDDING OF BARNEY FRANK AND JIM READY Governor Deval Patrick
The Celebration and Blessing of the Marriage of Barney Frank and Jim Ready
7 July 2012

Officiant, facing the people and the persons to be married, with the couple before him, addresses the people and says

Beloved family and friends: We have come together to witness and bless the joining together of BARNEY and JIM in marriage.

As you might imagine, at the request of the Congressman, this service will be short and to the point. But there are certain formailities that even a senior member of Congress must observe. The first is this question.

I ask you both that, if either of you know any reason why you may not be united in marriage lawfully, you do now confess it.

The Declaration of Consent

BARNEY AND JIM: Do you promise to love each other and be each other’s best friend,
In sickness and in health,
In Congress or in retirement,
Whether the surf is up or the surf’s flat,
For richer or for poorer,
Under the Democrats or the Republicans,
Whether the slopes are powdery or icy,
Whether the book reviews are good or bad,
For better or for worse,
On MSNBC or on Fox,
For as long as you both shall live.

Barney and Jim answer: We do.

RING EXCHANGE

Barney places the ring on Jim’s ring-finger and says

JIM, I give you this ring — as a symbol of my love and dedication — and pledge my love now and always.

Jim places the ring on Barney’s ring-finger and says

BARNEY, I give you this ring — as a symbol of my love and dedication — and pledge my love now and always.

Officiant offers or introduces a prayer and blessing:

Let us all pray:

Heavenly Father, thank you for this day and this joy.
Grant to BARNEY and JIM long life, good health, wisdom, patience, kindness, understanding, laughter, and loving family and friends.
And may their days together be good and long upon earth.
Amen

The Pronouncement
Then the Officiant joins the right hands of the couple and says

Now that BARNEY AND JIM have given themselves to each other by solemn vows, with the joining of hands and the giving and receiving of rings, by the power vested in me by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I pronounce that they are married.
Those so joined together, let no one put asunder.

Sahil Kapur

Sahil Kapur is a congressional reporter for TPM. He previously covered politics and public policy for numerous publications including The Guardian and The Huffington Post. He can be reached at sahil [at] talkingpointsmemo.com.