Congressman Barney Frank of
Massachusetts has said Indiana Representative Dan Burton believed he
would catch HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, from Frank.
In 1987, Frank became the first House
member to voluntarily announce he's gay.
The 72-year-old Democrat and his
longtime boyfriend Jim Ready are preparing to marry next month in
Massachusetts, the first state to legalize gay nuptials.
In an interview with The
Huffington Post, Frank, who is preparing to retire, said he
came out because his life was “unacceptable.”
“I wanted to live my life on my own
terms, and that meant being the person I am. I felt I was hiding,”
he said.
“I was pleasantly surprised and
welcomed with open arms by members of both parties, with the
exception of Dan Burton, who refused to use the House gym after I
announced I was gay,” Frank added. “He thought he would catch
HIV or something from me. The funny thing about the whole situation
is that we had worked out in the same gym for five years before I
announced I was gay.”