Liberal Rep Barney Frank (D-MA) to marry longtime partner

(NECN) - Congressman Barney Frank's office has confirmed that the retiring 71-year-old Representative is marrying is longtime partner, Jim Ready, in a Massachusetts ceremony. A date has not been set.

In November 2011, Frank announced he would retire from Congress at the conclusion of his current term in 2013.

Frank has served as a U.S. Representative for Massachusetts since 1981, and is considered the most prominent gay politician in the U.S.