Republican legislator comes out as Gay (Philadelphia, Altoona: credit, university, airport)

[Clark Park]

A conservative Republican state legislator, Mike Fleck, has called a news conference to declare he is gay. Mr. Fleck, 39, is from Huntingdon and represents a conservative district where Republicans outnumber Democrats that includes Huntingdon and Mifflin Counties and the city of Altoona. Mr. Fleck is a graduate of Liberty University, which was founded by the late Jerry Falwell.

Fleck discussed his life-long struggle to try to overcome his homosexuality and suppress it. He was married (to a woman) until last year, and sought the help of Christian counselors who engage in "reparative therapy" which has been discredited by many mental health organizations and experts in that field. "Reparative therapy" has been outlawed in California and Republican Governor Corbett has expressed interest in making it illegal here in the Keystone State.

Fleck will not be the only gay legislator in Harrisburg, however. An openly gay man was elected from a Center City district in Philadelphia to take over the seat held by longtime Representative Babette Johnson.

[okie1962]

Why are there so many gay republicans? Or should I say so many closeted gay republicans.

[2nd trick op]

Why do agressive gay militants have to decide whether someone is a candidate for an "outing" when the issue is no one's business save the subjects?

Do I see a double standard here?? "Political Correctness" at work???

[okie1962]

Originally Posted by 2nd trick op

Why do agressive gay militants have to decide whether someone is a candidate for an "outing" when the issue is no one's business save the subjects?

Do I see a double standard here?? "Political Correctness" at work???

They are pointing out the politicians hypocrisy.

[mancat100]

The "aggressive gay militants" will forcibly out people who are secretly gay, yet for political reasons either trash talk gays and/or support policies seen as detrimental to gay people. That type of utter hypocrisy gets rewarded in the form of an outing.

The people who are secretly gay and NON hypocritical are generally left alone - as they should be.

[Clark Park]

No one "outed" Fleck but himself. I think the claims that "aggressive gay militants" are responsible for exposing the homosexual inclinations of individuals is greatly exaggerated. As in the case of Fleck, the individual himself came out of the closet.

Often a person who is Republican, conservative, an evangelical minister, or somehow engaged in the anti-gay rights movement is exposed as being a closeted homosexual themselves because they discovered traveling with a paid male "escort" or messing around in an airport men's room with an undercover cop or they are arrested for sexually harassing some younger guy in their ministry. It has nothing to with being "outed" by someone in the gay civil rights movement.

That they were demonizing LGBT people and fighting against gay rights puts a spotlight on their hypocrisy.