In about two weeks, retiring congressman and leading gay-rights activist Barney Frank will marry his partner, Jim Ready of Ogunquit, in a private ceremony in Newton, Mass.

After that, Frank says, he will work to ensure that same-sex marriage becomes legal in Maine.

"We want to get married in Maine, but it's not legal," Frank said in an interview with the Portland Press Herald.

The Democrat from Massachusetts has already participated in fundraising for the campaign to legalize same-sex marriage, and he said he plans to get more involved in the effort.