Gay US congressman Barney Frank says Republicans ‘ignored’ his wedding

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Barney Frank, the gay US congressman who married his partner at the weekend, says Republican colleagues have “mostly ignored” his wedding.

Speaking on the Bill Press show, the Democratic politician said he had heard no negative comments and that a few Republicans had privately congratulated him.

Mr Frank, who married Jim Ready in Massachusetts on Saturday, said: “Mostly, the Republicans have ignored it.

“There have been no negative comments and I think a few years ago, there would have been. The climate is changing and opponents have realised that the country is moving beyond them.”

Mr Frank, 72, added that his proudest moment was being the first US congressman to announce he was gay, as he did in 1987.

He is due to retire in six months and said recently he wanted to wed before leaving office.

He told New York magazine in April: “I think it’s important that my colleagues interact with a married gay man.”