1st openly gay N.Y. rep. marries

COLD SPRING, N.Y. — New York's first openly gay member of Congress has married his longtime partner.

Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney exchanged vows Saturday with Randy Gene Florke at the Church of St. Mary-in-the-Highlands in Cold Spring.


Florke proposed in December after the youngest of their three children wrote to Santa wishing for her parents to be married.

The 47-year-old Maloney represents the lower Hudson Valley region. He is one of two members of Congress married to a same-sex partner.

The 51-year-old Florke is a real estate and design executive at a New York City firm he founded in 1996.

They've been together 22 years and have three children, ages 11 to 24.

U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Gov. Andrew Cuomo sent congratulations via Twitter.