State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta is calling for a fellow lawmaker’s resignation over alleged homophobic slurs.
WPVI
Friday, October 2, 2026 9:54PM
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PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta, a Democrat representing part of Philadelphia, is calling for the resignation of Republican State Rep. Aaron Bernstine following reports that Bernstine allegedly directed homophobic slurs at him.
Kenyatta’s call comes after a report in a Harrisburg newspaper that said Bernstine was heard in a bar using an anti-gay slur to describe Kenyatta and falsely claiming that Kenyatta had lost weight because he has AIDS.
“It’s important to me that Rep. Bernstine resign. Not because I’m angry at him or he hurt my feelings. It’s because his behavior falls so far beneath what it must mean to be a member of the House of Representatives,” Kenyatta said.
Bernstine, who represents Butler and Lawrence counties, denied making the comments and said the allegations are a political attack.
The Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus has also called for Bernstine’s resignation.
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