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<\/a><\/p>\nA Pennsylvania lawmaker is facing growing calls to step down over allegations that he made homophobic remarks about a fellow state representative. <\/p>\n
Republican Representative Aaron Bernstine, who serves the 8th House District, which is part of Butler and Lawrence counties, denies making the comments about Democratic Representative Malcolm Kenyatta and called the whole thing “a political attack.” <\/p>\n
PennLive first reported<\/a> that Bernstine made the remarks at McGrath’s Pub while a Democratic fundraiser was taking place Tuesday night. <\/p>\n It was reported to PennLive by an official with the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council, who alleged that Bernstine used racist and anti-gay language to describe Philadelphia-based state Representative Malcolm Kenyatta and falsely attributed Kenyatta’s weight loss to AIDS. <\/p>\n Kenyatta, who is an openly gay man, was not at the bar at the time the remarks were allegedly made. <\/p>\n Bernstine says he was threatened <\/p>\n Bernstine denied the claims and told NBC affiliate WPXI<\/a> that individuals associated with the Pennsylvania Building Trades Council came up to him and threatened him, objecting to amendments he intended to introduce on legislation. <\/p>\n Bernstine said the incident was also reported to police. <\/p>\n He called the original report from PennLive a “political attack.” <\/p>\n Two Republican representatives who said they were present, Scott Barger and Josh Bashline, told NBC affiliate WPXI <\/a>that they did hear the threats directed at Bernstine but did not hear him use the alleged slur. <\/p>\n Calls for Bernstine’s resignation grow<\/p>\n However, demands for Bernstine’s resignation are growing, especially from Kenyatta himself. <\/p>\n “We cannot get distracted. Not because I’m angry at him or because 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,” said Kenyatta. <\/p>\n The House Republican Caucus called the reported conduct troubling and inconsistent with the professionalism expected of lawmakers, but it stopped short of calling for Bernstine’s resignation. <\/p>\n Previous controversy resurfaces<\/p>\n This isn’t the first time Bernstine has been called on to resign. <\/p>\n