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Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Gay activists demand apology from lawmaker for "bigoted" comments

So far a petition hasn't worked, nor has a videotaped confrontation in the state Capitol.

Now gay activists demanding an apology from Sen. John Eichelberger are considering taking out newspaper ads in his Altoona district for what they call "bigoted" comments he made in a saying in a recent radio debate.

Eichelberger, sponsor of a  constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage said on a WHYY radio debate of gays "we allow them to exist." 

Eichelberger was responding to a question from Sen. Daylin Leach (D., Montgomery) about whether Pennsylvania’s policy toward same-sex couples should be punitive. He said, “They’re not being punished. We’re allowing them to exist, and do what every American can do."

Michael Morrill, executive director of Keystone Progress, a multi-issue advocacy group, said he can't imagine any other ethnic group where such a comment would be considered acceptable.

Morrill led a group of about 20 activists who confronted Eichelberger on Monday outside the state Senate chamber. They presented him with a petition with 5,000 signatures seeking an apology.

When asked directly for an apology by Morrill Eichelberger said, "I think you know my answer to that," before disappearing into the Senate chamber. Morrill said activists are working on newspaper ads targetting the Senator next. "We want to voters in his district to known how he is representing them."

 Click here for Philly.com's politics page.


Posted by Amy Worden @ 6:32 PM  Permalink | 10 comments
Comments   
Posted 09:23 AM, 07/02/2009
Fernando08
Inalienable rights do not emanate from the government or its paid representatives. This State Senator is an idiot and a typical propagandist for his own power seeking. We let you exist Senator, by our consent you have a job. By our will you get to perform a function in our government. Your very role and any meaningful consequence resulting from that role is at the pleasure of the public who constituted the government. You do NOT allow anything or ANYONE. WE ALLOW YOU!
Posted 10:46 AM, 07/02/2009
DisappointedDemocrat
GOOD CALL, MR EICHLEBERGER! NO APOLOGY NEEDED!
Posted 05:49 PM, 07/03/2009
drhoagie
The person writing the article bit hook, line and sinker in reporting as fact the unverified list of "5,000" so called signatures. Fraud groups lik ACORN have the ability to generate hundreds of thousands of "signatures" at the snap of a finger. And with no integrity left in cheerleading journalism, why wouldn't they?
Posted 11:03 PM, 07/03/2009
bill at
Have these 'activists' demanded that Perez Hilton apologize for using language considered derogatory by gays? Not political enough, I guess. Right?
Comment removed.
Posted 05:26 AM, 07/05/2009
FJG JR
This guy should run for President. He said what he believes, and that is the American way.
Posted 12:59 PM, 07/05/2009
Jimmy Madison
Since when are homosexuals an ethnic group? Advocating multi-issues apparently leads to confusion as to what you're upset about on any given day of the week. Let's not listen!
Posted 01:03 PM, 07/05/2009
sundiatah
22% of Americans consider themselves Republicans. Help the GOP... first become self-righteous, then learn to hate minorities, gays,and the poor! The GOP has an open door policy for bigots!
Comment removed.
Posted 12:38 PM, 07/06/2009
Valley Twin
Uh, mensaman, the Supreme Court directly overturned Bowers v. Hardwick in 2003 (Lawrence v. Texas), showing that even they can admit when they have made a mistake. From the majority opinion: "Bowers was not correct when it was decided, and it is not correct today. It ought not to remain binding precedent. Bowers v. Hardwick should be and now is overruled" Can you admit the same?
10 comments
About Commonwealth Confidential
Commonwealth Confidential gives you regularly updated coverage of the state legislature, the governor and the workings of the state bureaucracy. It is written by the political reporters in the Inquirer's Harrisburg bureau, based right in the statehouse.

Mario F. Cattabiani (left) has covered state government and politics from Harrisburg since 1994, the last six years for the Inquirer. In July, he was ranked by PolitickerPa.com as No. 1 among the "Most Powerful Political Reporters" in Pennsylvania.

Angela Couloumbis (center) joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 1998, and has covered government and politics in New Jersey, Philadelphia and throughout Pennsylvania, including Gov. Rendell’s 2006 race against former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann.

Amy Worden (right) joined the Inquirer in 2000 and has covered governors, gubernatorial races, U.S. Senate races and three presidential campaigns. When not covering politics she can be found filing dispatches from disaster scenes or digging into local stories of national import.
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