Openly gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) announced today that he would not seek reelection in 2012 after more than 30 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Frank, perhaps the country's most prominent gay politician, was instrumental in advocating pro-LGBT legislation in Congress during his tenure and led financial reforms efforts after the economic collapse of 2008 as the chairman of the Financial Services Committee.
Multiple reports suggest that Frank's decision to retire from Congress was based partly on the new layout of his current congressional district.
The Senate Judiciary Committee held the first-ever hearing today on the Respect for Marriage Act, a bill that if passed would repeal the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and allow the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages.
The Respect for Marriage Act was introduced in the Senate by Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and in the House of Representatives by Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY).
Today's hearing included testimony from gay marriage supporters, those negatively affected by the current law and advocates urging the passage of the Respect for Marriage Act.