‘Unfit to serve’: Pennsylvania GOP lawmaker faces resignation calls over antigay tirade about colleague

Witnesses say a Pennsylvania legislator used a homophobic slur to describe Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta during a public tirade, then falsely claimed the out lawmaker had AIDS.Republican state Rep. Aaron Bernstine allegedly made the anti-LGBTQ+ remarks Tuesday at McGrath’s Pub, a bar in Harrisburg, in an exchange first reported by The Patriot-News. Michael Ford, secretary-treasurer of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council, told the outlet that Bernstine directed the remarks to him.Bernstine denied the allegations in a statement to Spotlight PA. “The allegations attributed to me are false,” he said. “This is a political attack.” He also said the original article omitted key details about the encounter.Ford said he got into an argument with Bernstine at the bar when the GOP lawmaker started insulting both Kenyatta and Robert Bair, president of the trades council. During the exchange, Ford said Bernstine referred to Kenyatta as “gay, Black” and used a homophobic slur. Ford said Bernstine then pointed to Kenyatta’s recent weight loss and wrongly asserted it was “because he has AIDS.” Kenyatta has lost more than 100 pounds in the last four years but is not HIV-positive, according to a person familiar with Kenyatta’s personal life. Ford said the attack on Kenyatta, who was not there, shocked him.“You could say whatever you want about me and Rob and the building trades, but when you start talking about a guy that ain’t even there in, like, a way that’s really derogatory, that’s not cool,” Ford said.A Democratic fundraiser was being held at the bar that evening, and numerous lobbyists and politicians overheard the remarks, according to The Patriot-News. Kenyatta was not at the event. Kenyatta did not provide an on-the-record comment in response to The Advocate’s request.Related: Gay Pennsylvania Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta wins Democratic primary for auditor general‘Unfit to serve’: Caucus leaders demand Bernstine’s resignationL