Black and LGBTQ leaders in Pennsylvania are calling for Republican state Rep. Aaron Bernstine to resign after he allegedly directed a homophobic racial slur at Democratic Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta at a Harrisburg bar.

According to PennLive, Michael Ford, secretary-treasurer of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council, said Bernstine called Kenyatta a “gay, Black [slur]” and questioned why the openly gay lawmaker was “so skinny” before allegedly saying it was because Kenyatta has AIDS.

The comments reportedly happened Tuesday (September 29) at McGrath’s Pub in downtown Harrisburg following a legislative voting session. Kenyatta was not at the bar and declined to comment, according to Pennsylvania Capital-Star.

“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 told PennLive.

“You can’t talk like that to people or about people,” he added. “It’s terrible.”

Bernstine denied making the comments, calling the allegations “false” and “a political attack.”

The Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus and LGBTQ Equality Caucus called for Bernstine’s resignation in a joint statement Thursday (October 1).

“We are deeply disturbed by reports of hateful, degrading, and untrue attacks directed at our friend and caucus member Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta,” the groups said, according to Pennsylvania Capital-Star. “Such conduct is unacceptable and has no place in our legislature.”

“We are calling on all House members, but especially Republican leaders, to denounce his behavior, to join us in demanding his resignation,” they said.

A spokesperson for House Minority Leader Jesse Topper said Bernstine’s alleged comments about Kenyatta do not reflect the professionalism expected from lawmakers.

“When they fall short of that standard, it is upon them to take personal and individual responsibility for their actions quickly and appropriately,” spokesperson Jason Gottesman said.

The Capital-Star also reported that Bernstine sent Philadelphia advocate Rachele Fortier an email in 2023 after she asked for his support for paid family leave legislation.

“I don’t read emails from anybody who puts their pronouns in their email signature,” Bernstine wrote.

Fortier said the email came to mind after she read about the allegations involving Kenyatta.

“It’s very widely known that making fun of pronouns or having a problem with being asked your pronouns is problematic,” she told the Capital-Star.

Bernstine also faced calls to resign in 2020 after the Beaver County Times reported that he posted Snapchat videos showing his then-5-year-old son smoking a cigar and using vulgar language about women.

House Republican leaders said at the time, “We are disgusted by Rep. Bernstine’s conduct,” according to the Capital-Star.

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