Mitt Romney's opposition to gay rights has been described as “despicable” by Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank.

Frank made his comments during an interview with gay weekly the Washington Blade following his keynote speech at the National Stonewall Democrats' Capital Champions reception.

Romney's comments in February that he “fought hard and prevented Massachusetts from becoming the Las Vegas of gay marriage” irked Frank.

“That's like saying our marriages were a trick, were a sham,” said Frank, who is planning to marry his partner Jim Ready in July. “He's clearly prepared to embrace the most – oh, and supporting a constitutional amendment. What that says is that existing marriages are abolished. That's just outrageous.”

Frank also said Romney was being disingenuous about opposing discrimination against gay men and lesbians.

“He's lying. What does that mean? How does he oppose discrimination? He's not for any legislation that would make it illegal. So how does he oppose it? He is for a discrimination that would dissolve all the existing marriages. So what does that mean when he says that?”