Did he or didn’t he?
State Rep. Aaron Bernstine (R-Butler/Lawrence) is under the microscope after he reportedly went on a homophobic tirade against a legislative colleague as a Democratic fundraiser was being held on Tuesday night inside a Harrisburg bar.
PennLive reported today that Bernstine was overheard at McGrath’s Pub calling a gay Democratic lawmaker an anti-gay slur and falsely claiming the other lawmaker, Rep. Malcom Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia), lost weight because of AIDS, according to Michael Ford, the secretary/treasurer of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council.
According to the story, Ford and Bernstine got into a verbal confrontation as the Republican lawmaker went after Kenyatta and Rob Bair, president of the Building Trades Council, who was sitting at a nearby table.
Bernstine called Kenyatta a “gay, black [slur]” and asked in a joking manner if anyone knew why Kenyatta was now “so skinny” before saying it was because he has AIDS, said Ford.
In a statement to PennLive Wednesday night, House Democratic leadership said the “reports of a member spewing hateful, vile language about another member are shocking, offensive and deeply disappointing. He should be ashamed of himself and apologize for his embarrassing and hateful behavior.
“We hope Rep. Bernstine looks at his words and actions of last evening — as well as his previous numerous reprehensible behaviors — and expeditiously does the right thing for his constituents, his caucus and the chamber.”
Bernstine denied the allegations, claiming the article omitted details about the encounter with those associated with the building trades council. He said he was seated in a separate room when several individuals approached him to object to amendments he intended to introduce on legislation supported by the council.
According to a story in the Cranberry Eagle, Bernstine claims individuals with the council tried to intimidate him with threats, adding that “political disagreements never justify threats or intimidation. It’s a shame that they need to spread falsehoods to win hearts and minds. This is a political attack.”
Leaders of the Pennsylvania Black caucus and the LGBT+Equality caucus were not as measured as House Democratic leadership, calling for Bernstine’s resignation this morning.
“We are deeply disturbed by reports of hateful, degrading and untrue attacks directed at our friend and caucus member, Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta. Such conduct is unacceptable and has no place in our legislature. Every member deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their identity or background,” a news release said.
“Rep. 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.”
Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson also issued a statement.
“Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta has served honorably as the first out gay, Black man in the Pennsylvania legislature, and neither he nor any other Pennsylvanian deserves to be subjected to the kind of appalling, anti-LGBTQ+ hatred that Rep. Bernstine displayed,” Robinson said. “Rep. Bernstine should, at a minimum, face censure from his colleagues, if not outright expulsion from the legislature.”
This is not the first time that Bernstine has faced controversy.
In 2020 in since-deleted social media posts, he is heard urging his five-year-old son to smoke a cigar, telling him to “hit it harder, breathe in.” Videos also show Bernstine encouraging his son to use a vulgar word for vagina and asking another child to play a game known as “F—, Marry, Kill.” – which typically offers up three people’s names, and players have to pick one for each action. At that time, it was GOP leaders that called for Bernstine to “immediately resign.”
In a brief video response posted to Twitter, Bernstine apologized, saying the videos were recorded on a vacation with his son, his son’s friends and several of the boys’ parents.
“It was jokes that went way too far,” Bernstine said. “For that, I’m truly sorry, I have to do a much better job as a role model for my child. I’ll continue to work on that and me and my family are addressing it as a private matter.”
The Philadelphia House Delegation, chaired by Rep. Morgan Cephas (D-Philadelphia) and comprised of 25 members of the chamber, backed their colleague and called upon Bernstine to resign.
“The Philadelphia House Delegation stands in support of our colleague from North Philadelphia Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta and echoes the call of the PA Legislative Black Caucus and PA LGBTQ+ Equality Caucus for the immediate resignation of Rep. Aaron Bernstine following his alleged disgusting, hate-filled tirade.
“There is no stronger advocate than Rep. Kenyatta for the promise of Pennsylvania and equality of all people. There is no place in the institution of the House of Representatives nor in this commonwealth for hate speech and the reported abhorrent rhetoric espoused by Rep. Bernstine. As elected officials, we must hold ourselves to a higher standard of conduct, a level which Rep. Bernstine has repeatedly failed.”
“While we know that Rep. Kenyatta will continue to shine above the lowbrow spectacle of Rep. Bernstine and his ilk, we believe it’s time for the House Republican leaders and members to be accountable for their colleague, follow the lead of the majority of Pennsylvanians who reject those hateful views by publicly condemning Bernstine’s bluster, and demand that he do the right thing for Pennsylvania and the good people of Butler and Lawrence counties by resigning immediately.”
