Republican Pennsylvania legislator comes out
A Republican becomes the first first openly gay state representative in the KeyStone State:
State Rep. Mike Fleck (R-Huntingdon) publicly acknowledged Saturday that he is gay, making him the first openly gay lawmaker in Pa. and the only* currently sitting openly gay Republican state legislator in the entire country.
. . . .
“Coming out is hard enough, but doing it in the public eye is definitely something I never anticipated,” he said. “I’m still the exact same person and I’m still a Republican and, most importantly, I’m still a person of faith trying to live life as a servant of God and the public. The only difference now is that I will also be doing so as honestly as I know how.”
He said his party affiliation remains strong.
“The Republican party is all about the government needing to stay out of people’s lives,” Fleck said. “I’m not a one-issue person and it’s not a one-issue party.”
Well said, Representative Fleck. Wish more people understood this about gay Republicans. Our political calculus doesn’t revolve around our sexuality nor does the agenda of our party.
Folks at the Advocate would be wise to learn from this gay elected official — and to watch how his party receives him.
26 Comments
RSS feed for comments on this post.
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
He will also be divorcing his wife Angela…
Comment by V the K — December 1, 2012 @ 6:38 pm - December 1, 2012
From Wiki:
Brian Sims, a Philadelphia Democrat elected in 2012, is the first openly gay man ELECTED to the legislature but will not take office until January 2013
Comment by Vince Smetana — December 1, 2012 @ 6:56 pm - December 1, 2012
The left will now start heaping hate on him just as they do anyone of any group that belongs on the democrat plantation.
Comment by Richard Bell — December 1, 2012 @ 6:58 pm - December 1, 2012
“and to watch how his party receives him.”
I hope GP continues to report on this element. I imagine it will, considering the potential for wisdom in learning.
Comment by Vince Smetana — December 1, 2012 @ 7:06 pm - December 1, 2012
RE: 3
The majority of comments at Towleroad have not been heaping hate on him, actually. Quite the opposite. Perhaps you can clarify your remarks about “the left” and “heaping hate.”
Comment by Vince Smetana — December 1, 2012 @ 7:08 pm - December 1, 2012
“Dear President Clinton, What a year you’ve had, the kind that really burnishes a legend. At the Democratic National Convention, on the campaign trail, in speeches aplenty and during interviews galore, you spoke eloquently about what this country should value, and you spoke unequivocally about where it should head. Such a bounty of convictions, such a harvest of words, except for one that’s long overdue: Sorry.
“Where’s your apology for signing the Defense of Marriage Act? And why, amid all the battles you’ve joined, and with all the energy you’ve been able to muster, haven’t you made a more vigorous case for same-sex marriage, especially in light of your history on this issue? You fret about your legacy, as any president would. For turning a blind eye to the butchery in Rwanda, you struggled through a mea culpa of sorts, and after Barack Obama seemed to lavish higher praise on Ronald Reagan than on you, you seethed.
“Well, DOMA, which says that the federal government recognizes only marriages of a man and a woman, is one of the uglier blemishes on your record, an act of indisputable discrimination that codified unequal treatment of gay men and lesbians and, in doing so, validated the views of Americans who see us as lesser people. If our most committed, heartfelt relationships don’t measure up, then neither do we. If how we love is suspect, then so is who we are. No two ways to interpret that. No other conclusion to be drawn.” – Frank Bruni, writing for the New York Times.
Comment by rusty — December 1, 2012 @ 10:04 pm - December 1, 2012
Nathan Lauver on December 1, 2012 at 12:02 pm said:
I’ve known Mike for years, both as a Scouter and a constituent, and I am proud to be the friend of a man with such courage. We could surely use more of that in our elected leadership at all levels.
Comment by rusty — December 1, 2012 @ 10:10 pm - December 1, 2012
Read the Advocate piece. DUH!
Comment by TGC — December 1, 2012 @ 11:55 pm - December 1, 2012
RE: 8
Richard Bell: “The left will now start heaping hate on him just as they do anyone of any group that belongs on the democrat plantation.”
Translation: “They will hear this soon and then begin to conduct themselves in the following behavior”: “heaping hate.”
Me: “The majority of comments at Towleroad have not been heaping hate on him, actually. Quite the opposite.”
Translation: The Left Gays at Towleroad read this today and DID NOT start “heaping hate on him.”
Me: “Perhaps you can clarify your remarks about “the left” and “heaping hate.”
Translation: You were wrong.
Comment by Vince Smetana — December 2, 2012 @ 12:20 am - December 2, 2012
Additionally, the Advocate has nothing to do with the Rep who just came out. The article was published before it happened. Richard Bell was theorizing what would happen and he was wrong.
Comment by Vince Smetana — December 2, 2012 @ 12:27 am - December 2, 2012
This honesty has shown how far Pennsylvania has come. To have a public figure like Mike Fleck come out as gay proves that a person’s sexuality does not affect their ability to get a job done. Fleck was applauded by gay rights groups and legislative Democrats for his decision to come out.
http://www.examiner.com/article/out-proud-rep-mike-fleck-of-pennsylvania-announces-he-is-gay
Comment by rusty — December 2, 2012 @ 3:51 am - December 2, 2012
Good for him. I, for one, would vote for him.
Comment by BigGator5 — December 2, 2012 @ 12:14 pm - December 2, 2012
I really don’t see where coming out is an act of courage these days. Maybe 20 years ago, but now… meh.
Comment by V the K — December 2, 2012 @ 12:17 pm - December 2, 2012
Maybe Pennsylvanian gays on the left applaude him. But as for gays in the rest of the nation many will send hate mail and insults. I hope he´ll be ready. There is not much difference between gay and black liberals. It was outrageous what they sent to Mayor Mia Love, after her appearance at the Republican National Convention.
It was nice to see Rick Grennell, last night, on Justice With Judge Jeanine Pirro, giving his reasons why Susan Rice is not qualified to be Secretary of State.
Comment by Roberto — December 2, 2012 @ 3:49 pm - December 2, 2012
The hate will flow the second he steps out of line with left-wing orthodoxy by opposing a tax increase or failing to shout “Sieg Heil” when Obama walks by.
Comment by V the K — December 2, 2012 @ 5:11 pm - December 2, 2012
I lived in central PA (State College) in the mid 1980s, and while it is not quite as socially conservative as 30 years ago, I think Fleck will have difficulty winning a GOP primary in 2014. The population around there is quite old; they dislike drinking, which is why so many dry areas occur in rural PA. It is like the Deep South with a PA accent.
Comment by davinci — December 2, 2012 @ 6:33 pm - December 2, 2012
Huh. I looked at the Advocate article about Fleck coming out and read comments about how he’s an Uncle Tom and that gay Republicans must’ve suffered brain damage. At Advocate and HuffingtonPlagiarism, there’s plenty of comments exemplifying the Christophobia of gay liberals. Little Kreepy’s comments at Towleroad are a good example.
JamesFromCambridge, over at Gawker, says:
The conservative movement is littered with psychotic gays. The conservative movement is littered with psychotics period, but for some reason, the most noxious people in the movement always turn out to be gay.
David Ehrenstein, over at Salon, says:
Gay Republicans = Jews for Hitler.
So would you mind telling me who was wrong? And could you do it without your horse’s ass “translation” crap? Cheers.
Comment by TGC — December 2, 2012 @ 11:14 pm - December 2, 2012
Kudos to Rep Fleck!
The true test for him will be when he has to run again. Its a rare things for a gay republican to get through their primary.
Heres hoping the folks in his district are open minded enough to realize his orientation does not effect his job performance.
Comment by mike — December 2, 2012 @ 11:55 pm - December 2, 2012
Um, Richard bell said the left will heap hate on “him.” I’m sick of translating for you TGC. I read the towleroad comments about “him”.
Take a reading class.
Comment by Vince Smetana — December 3, 2012 @ 2:06 am - December 3, 2012
Did someone say “left-wing hate”?? Yeah, we’ve got that (from the original source no less):
Then there’s this from a very tolerant (not to mention clairvoyant) person from the largest city in the Lone Star State:
But wait! There’s more:
And there’s always a backhanded complimenter in the bunch:
Not to mention a self-appointed parlimentarian and decorum advocate who couldn’t wait for Miss Manners or Dear Prudence to weigh in first:
Now before our resident Solomons start splitting hairs about how exactly this consitutes “hate”, imagine what the reaction would be if Representative Fleck were a Democrat. The seal-clapping would be so loud (undoubtedly from people like Antoney, David, Louis, Jeff, and Jimmy) that it would be hard to hear anythng else.
And in case those Solomons and Polyannas need another example, here it is:
All this ‘love’ from the tolerant left! (And all without even having Representative Fleck vote on any LGBTQXYZ legislation.)
Fortunately, there was a call-out on some of the love:
And it took seven hours before a sneering smackdown happened (not original enough to merit reposting, though). Apparently there was Sunday brunch or something to attend to first.
Comment by RSG — December 3, 2012 @ 5:06 am - December 3, 2012
I dunno; I think it depends on where you’re at (geographically and otherwise). In NoVA, probably not so much. But in more rural and conservative parts of the country, definitely.
There’s a Republican representative in my state legislature who seems to have had a similar epiphany as Representative Fleck in the past few years; and, as an early-thirtysomething single male who gained national attention in the past for his opposition to antigay marriage bills plus his sponsorship of antidiscrimination measures, I’d say he’s already pretty much a marked man. But publically coming out would be another thing altogether. The only reason he was unopposed for re-election in 2012 was because the self-proclaimed “RINO hunters” (really, that’s how they refer to themselves) in the county Republican party couldn’t find anyone in his district to run against him.
Then, there’s this [again, from the orginal source]:
I mean, wow. If I had that much nuttiness and ignorance in my extended family (assuming it actually is his family) it would take more than courage to come out; I’d want a security detail and a public relations team to boot.
Comment by RSG — December 3, 2012 @ 5:41 am - December 3, 2012
Also note “heaps of hate” not “infrequent random person.”
Comment by Vince Smetana — December 3, 2012 @ 11:13 am - December 3, 2012
Bullshit. Republicans have been using sexuality as a wedge issue for years. I’m sorry, but you don’t get to cater to constituencies like the religious right and social conservatives and then flatly state that your agenda doesn’t revolve around sexuality.
Comment by Levi — December 3, 2012 @ 12:11 pm - December 3, 2012
*yawn* More lies from Levi.
Comment by The_Livewire — December 3, 2012 @ 12:15 pm - December 3, 2012
Well, Livewire 1. It’s not like Levi *can* tell the truth and 2. It’s not like we don’t all know he’s just a cultist follower of Glorious Leader.
It’s not really, “Hush, Levi, adults are talking,” it’s more like, “Levi, why don’t take your chanting and flowers to the airport, or maybe check into the clinic for an E-meter auditing? Your Thetan levels seem high, or low, I forget which one makes you cranky. “
Comment by V the K — December 3, 2012 @ 12:35 pm - December 3, 2012
Mary Cheney and Heather Poe Get Married via GOProud
6/22/2012
Congratulations to Mary Cheney and Heather Poe on their recent wedding! The Daily Caller has the exclusive story about former Vice President Cheney’s daughter and her long time partner.
in a statement provided to TheDC, both the former vice president and his wife, Lynne, said they are “delighted” the couple could have their “relationship recognized.”
LaSalvia of the conservative GOProud organization celebrated the news on Friday, telling TheDC, “Mary and Heather have had a tremendous impact on the way America views gay people.”
“Simply by living their lives openly, honestly, and as authentic conservatives, they have done more to change hearts and minds in this country than any gay advocacy group,” he said. “This is one more way that they are demonstrating that gay Americans are just like everyone else. Good for them.”
Comment by rusty — December 3, 2012 @ 12:58 pm - December 3, 2012