A local lawmaker is facing accusations he allegedly used a homophobic slur earlier this week.
PennLive is reporting that State Representative Aaron Bernstine is facing accusations that he called Democratic lawmaker Malcom Kenyatta an anti-gay slur and falsely claimed he lost weight because he had AIDS.
This allegedly happened at a crowded bar in Harrisburg Tuesday night when Bernstine got into a verbal confrontation with a member of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council during a Democratic fundraising event.
Two members of the council went on record with PennLive with the accusations.
Bernstine however denies the accusations.
“The allegations attributed to me are false,” Bernstine said. “This is a political attack.”
Bernstine said in a statement to Butler Radio the PennLive story left out details about the encounter with the Building and Construction Trades Council. Bernstine says he was in a different room when several individuals approached him to object to amendments on legislation.
“During that encounter, statements directed at me included, ‘I know where you live,’ ‘I can’t wait to see you outside,’ and ‘I’ll kill you,’” Bernstine said. “Political disagreements never justify threats or intimidation. It’s a shame that they need to spread falsehoods to win hearts and minds.”
The chairs of the House’s Equality Caucus and Black Caucus have called for Bernstine to resign.
“Representative Bernstine must be held accountable for his words and actions, which have made him unfit to serve. Our constituents deserve a legislature that takes its responsibilities seriously and holds its members to a standard of decorum and decency worthy of public service. We are calling on all House members, but especially Republican leaders, to denounce his behavior, to join us in demanding his resignation, and for Republican leaders to identify the steps they will take to guard against this kind of pathetic behavior within their caucus,” the caucuses said in a statement.
