Barney Frank Is Engaged to Be Married

Rep. Barney Frank is engaged to marry his partner of four years, Jim Ready, a spokesman confirmed today.

Ready, 42, is a handyman and photographer, and the two have been together since the spring of 2007. He lives in Ogunquit, Maine, but the couple will wed in Massachusetts, which Frank has long represented in Congress. A date has not yet been announced.

Frank, 71, was the first gay member of Congress to come out voluntarily. He announced in November that he will not seek reelection and will instead retire at the end of his term.

During his announcement, Frank continued was as straightforward as always and challenged former House speaker Newt Gingrich to a debate over the Defense of Marriage Act to determine who is the real threat to the sanctity of marriage.