A veteran Pennsylvania state senator today just told a crowd at a hate crimes rally that he is gay.
In 2003 Jim Ferlo began serving as a Pennsylvania state senator. The 63-year old Democrat has been in public politics since 1988, when he first served in the Pittsburgh City Council.
At a rally at the state capitol today, Senator Ferlo surprised many people by announcing, “I’m gay. Get over it. I love it. It’s a great life.”
Ferlo, who is not seeking re-election, described himself as “a practicing homosexual,” and added, “I’ve never denied my homosexuality … I just never made an official declaration.”
Until today.
Standing just behind him was Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Brian Sims, who has been hard at work on the hate crimes bill and rally.
“Let’s keep this going!,” Sims urged.
Listen:
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Image by Rudolph Maceyko via Flickr
Hat tip: Josh Middleton at Philadelphia Magazine
Audio via Mary Wilson at WITF
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