Barney Frank, the first openly gay congressman, married his longtime partner James Ready Saturday. Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick officiated the ceremony at the Marriott hotel in Newton. Notable guests included House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Senator John Kerry and Representatives Dennis Kucinich and Steny Hoyer.

Frank, a Democrat of Massachusetts, volunteered his sexuality in 1987, is now the first sitting member of Congress to be married to a partner of the same sex. Frank has been involved with Ready, a carpenter and welder from Maine, since 2007.

The Boston Globe reported that the vows included promising to love each other "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."

Pelosi told the New York Times that it was appropriate to schedule the ceremony so close to the Fourth of July. “It’s about expanding freedom,” she said. “This opportunity was a long time coming.”

J-Connection: Barney Frank was born Barnett Frank to a Jewish family in New Jersey.