PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia Democrats are calling for a Republican Pennsylvania state representative to resign over allegations that he went on a homophobic tirade about an openly gay lawmaker.
According to a report by Penn Live, Republican Aaron Bernstine, of western Pennsylvania, called Philadelphia Democrat Malcolm Kenyatta an anti-gay slur and falsely claimed that he lost weight because he has AIDS.
Michael Ford of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council said Bernstine made the comments at a pub in Harrisburg. Kenyatta was not there.
Ford said there was a Democratic fundraiser at the bar, and Bernstine only seemed to be there as an “agitator.”
Bernstine denied the allegations and is telling a very different story. He said the building trades approached him over a legislative disagreement and threatened to kill him.
He said, “Information about the incident has been provided to law enforcement.”
Kenyatta, in a video posted to social media Friday morning, called for Bernstine’s resignation, “not because I’m angry at him or because he hurt my feelings. It’s because his behavior falls so far beneath what it must mean to be a member of the House of Representatives.”
Democrats are calling for the Republican’s resignation
Democrats are calling for the Republican’s resignation
