When An Ankle Exam Turned Into A 'Massage'

(image by Marlon Lara on Unsplash)

You know how an ankle exam sometimes turns into a date?

Yeah, me neither.

A Pennsylvania doctor has been charged with indecent assault after an ankle exam went in a whole different direction.

According to local news station WQAD, the male victim told police he texted Dr. William Vollmar on March 14 about treating his injured ankle.

The physician agreed to meet the man at his Quarryville sports clinic in at 7:30 p.m.

After 5-10 minutes of examination, Vollmar asked the man if he wanted to be “worked on.” Assuming the doctor meant massage and chiropractic adjustments, which the doctor had performed on the victim before, he said yes.

Near the end of the massage, during which the patient was naked except for a towel over his mid-section, the doctor asked the man, “Do you trust me?”

The man said he did, and Vollmar then began to touch the victim’s genitals.

Stunned, the man told Vollmar to stop. According to the victim, the doctor then asked, “Do you want me to finish you?”

The victim declined and ended the “massage.”

The victim told police that he never consented to have his genitals touched.

When the police interviewed Vollmar, the doctor explained that the whole episode was a “huge misunderstanding, mostly on my part.”

The doctor told the authorities that, while doing chiropractic manipulation on the man’s hips, he thought the man showed interest in something more, so Vollmar touched the peen.

According to the police complaint, the doctor admitted the victim had not given permission to touch his genitals.

(h/t WQAD)

Pennsylvania Wedding Venue Refuses To Host Same-Sex Weddings

(image via Depositphotos)

Another day, another wedding vendor refusing to serve same-sex couples.

This time, it's Star Barn Village, located near Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

Steven Dinnocenti, a retired educator who has attended Star Barn events in the past, recently shared on his social mediahis outrage upon discovering the venue has a ‘no same-gender weddings’ policy.

“Never again will I step on (their) grounds,” wrote the openly gay married man.

“What one does not know is the blatant discrimination they have towards the LGBTQ community and other individuals that they have written in their Core Values statement,” added Dinnocenti.

He also posted a link to Star Barn’s ‘Core Values’ statement which reads, in part, “We provide marriage-related services as ordained by God’s Word, the Holy Bible, that are consistent with the written truth that marriage is the union of one man and one woman.”

At this writing, Dinnocenti’s Facebook post has been shared over 360 times and garnered over 560 comments.

PennLive spoke with the owner of the venue, David Abel, who says he “does not tolerate discrimination against anyone, not in his business or in a public setting.”

“No persons will be discriminated against,” he insisted to PennLive. “However, we ask people to respect that we have core tenants in our faith and our beliefs and we cannot participate in any event that would be in contradiction to those core tenants - one of them being marriage, which has been biblically based for thousands of years as being between a man and a woman.”

He also asserts that religious freedoms are one of the principles under which the United States was founded. “It was also founded as one nation under God not over God,” he said.

(photo via Depositphotos)

But Dinnocenti told PennLive he flips that script. “The bottom line is go back to the Constitution,” he says. “The Bible should not be dictating the rule of the land.”

It’s important to note that Pennsylvania does not have any LGBTQ protections on the books. So, it would seem Mr. Abel is legally allowed to discriminate against same-sex couples.

This highlights, yet again, the need for The Equality Act to be passed in Congress and signed into law. The federal legislation would add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and erase any confusion about refusing services to people based only on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

For now, however, PennLive does point out that another wedding venue, Riverdale Manor and Thyme and Seasons Catering in nearby Lancaster, has seen its same-sex wedding business thrive since marriage equality became the law of the land in 2015.

Maureen Raezer, owner and president of the venue, told PennLive she subscribes to “the principles of inclusive economics.”

In fact, Raezer says she’s stopped doing business with vendors who don’t appreciate her inclusive wedding industry approach.

“I think they see it as they are somehow condoning gay marriage by participating in it,” Raezer said. “I‘m not sure how selling somebody a wedding cake does that. If I sold cookies to someone, why would I care what their sexual orientation was?”

She also believes that diversity is the future of economics. For her, a business model of excluding people “financially makes no sense.”

(h/t PennLive)

GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Threatens To "Stomp All Over" Opponent's Face "With Golf Spikes"

GOP candidate for governor in Pennsylvania Scott Wagner

And they say civility is dead. I guess 'they' would be right.

Republican governor candidate Scott Wagner recently dropped a campaign ad wherein he threatens to “stomp all over” Democratic incumbent Gov. Tom Wolf’s “face with golf spikes.”

“Well, Governor Wolf, let me tell you what, between now and Nov. 6, you better put a catcher’s mask on your face, because I’m going to stomp all over your face with golf spikes. Because I’m going to win this for the state of Pennsylvania. And we’re throwing you out of office. Because I’m sick and tired of your negative ads. Governor Wolf, I am bound and determined, I am going to vote you out of office.”

Watch below.

Full video of GOP candidate Scott Wagner threatening Gov. Tom Wolf: "You better put a catcher's mask on your face because I'm going to stomp all over your face with golf spikes." pic.twitter.com/Whh6TdsOXz

— Matt McDermott (@mattmfm) October 12, 2018

RealClearPolitics' average of polls shows the Democrat Wolf a comfortable 16 points ahead of Wagner.

Scott Wagner just threatened a sitting governor with violence.#PAGov https://t.co/be8pRXVNK0

— Sean Kitchen 🌹🦅 (@RCPress_Sean) October 12, 2018

I mean, isn’t a Republican threatening to stomp someone with golf spikes a little on the nose

“I shall then have my valet thrash you soundly”

— VeryHiddenGeniusHat (@Popehat) October 12, 2018

Golf spikes...really? The only thing more elitist would be to threaten democrats with a polo mallet.

— Shaun Hurst 🚁👨🏿‍🔧👨🏿‍🏫 (@kokujin_2000) October 13, 2018

Pennsylvania: Clergy Abuse Hotline Calls Surge In Aftermath Of Catholic Church Report

In the week since the release of a damning grand jury report asserting Roman Catholic Church officials worked to protect hundreds of priests accused of sexual misconduct, calls to a clergy abuse hotline in Pennsylvania have surged.

Josh Grace, a spokesman for Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, told USA Today that that the hotline has received over 300 new calls since the release of the report.

Grace added, “We’re answering every call and following up every lead.”

According to the grand jury report, which included claims of abuse stretching back 60 years, over 1,000 abuse victims were discouraged from reporting claims of abuse to prosecutors in an effort to shield hundreds of priests.

AG Shapiro tweeted recently that the investigation was “active and ongoing,” and would not end with the grand jury report.

Calls are surging to our special Clergy Abuse Hotline since the Grand Jury Report was released Tuesday.

We have trained, dedicated Agents on the line to listen to survivors and help.

This is an active and ongoing investigation.

888-538-8541

RT to help victims.

— Josh Shapiro (@JoshShapiroPA) August 18, 2018

The grand jury report, the result of a two year investigation, was presented to the press last Wednesday by AG Shapiro who deemed the report an "honest and comprehensive accounting of widespread sexual abuse."

According to the report, the alleged abuses stretched across the Keystone state from the dioceses of Allentown, Erie, Greensburg, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Scranton. Those dioceses regularly minister to more than 1.7 million Catholics.

Despite the statute of limitations, two priests have now been charged with sexually abusing children. One of the priests admitted to misconduct with a 10-year-old boy more than 20 years ago.

The Vatican has since condemned the alleged abuses detailed in the report on as "criminal and morally reprehensible.”

“Those acts were betrayals of trust that robbed survivors of their dignity and faith,” said spokesman Greg Burke in a statement for the Vatican. "The church must learn hard lessons from its past, and there should be accountability for both abusers and those who permitted abuse to occur.”

Pennsylvania Adds LGBTQs To Anti-Discrimination Laws But Not Hate Crime Statute

Earlier this month, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission added sexual orientation and gender identity to its list of protected groups.

That action now allows people to file complaints to the State of Pennsylvania regarding incidents of LGBTQ discrimination. The commission investigates complaints of discrimination in areas of education, housing, employment and public accommodations.

Before the addition of sexual orientation and gender identity, if LGBTQ folks felt they had been discriminated against, their own recourse was to file a complaint with their local municipality IF the area they lived in barred such discrimination. According to Equality Pennsylvania, only 51 of the Keystone State’s 2,562 municipalities have laws that protect LGBTQ citizens.

What the change does not do, however, is add sexual orientation and gender identity to the state’s hate crime statute.

So, if LGBTQ folks face discrimination in a restaurant or hotel, you can file a complaint. But if you are assaulted for being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, the perpetrator can be arrested but there will be no hate crime attached unless you are in one of the cities or local municipalities that have added sexual orientation or gender identity to their hate crime statute.
Now, there wasn’t always the case.

Back in 2002, the Pennsylvania state legislature added LGBTQ folks to the hate crimes law. In doing so, Pennsylvania became the 5th state to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender folks.

But two years later, when anti-gay protesters were arrested at a gay-rights event for preaching via bullhorn, concerns were raised about misuse of the statute.

Eventually, in 2007, a Commonwealth court struck down the addition to the hate crimes law saying the legislature had surreptitiously used an unrelated agriculture bill to make the change. In 2008, the state Supreme Court upheld that ruling and LGBTQ folks were once again left without hate crime protections statewide.

Since then, lawmakers have tried to update the hate crime statute but to no avail.

Some cities enacted their own hate crime legislation like Philadelphia in the aftermath of a vicious attack on a gay couple in the Center City area of Philly in 2014 which left one of the victims with a shattered jaw.

Currently, Pennsylvania’s hate crime laws protect folks from discrimination due to color, religion, race, and national origin.

(h/t Philly.com)

Pennsylvania: Out State Rep. Brian Sims Takes No Crap From Homophobic Colleague Daryl Metcalfe

Pennsylvania state Rep. Brian Sims

PA State Representative Daryl Metcalfe got his undies bunched up in Facebook tantrum recently, where he called out and proud PA state Rep. Brian Sims a "lying homosexual" over a redistricting dispute. 

Along the way, Metcalfe through in a few homophobic jabs including his belief that being gay is "immoral behavior."

Another lying Philadelphia Liberal Democrat Legislator attacking me this week with the help of the media! Another Democrat playing the victim while he is actually the perpetrator! After a committee meeting last... https://t.co/WE3a93aJVb

— Rep. Daryl Metcalfe (@RepMetcalfe) April 20, 2018

The woofy Brian, however, wasn't going to stand idly by as the homophobe ranted on his virtual anti-LGBT soapbox.

Referencing the movie Mean Girls, Sims called out Metcalfe for pulling out his "burn book."

Brian made it clear: if you come at him, come right or don't come at all.

My most infamously bigoted colleague, Rep. Daryl Metcalfe took to his “burn book” to attack my colleagues of color and myself call me a “lying homosexual.” I could use your help as I go up against this type of blatant homophobia and bigotry in the Capital. https://t.co/Oc7iLDN2qt pic.twitter.com/FVC4dBgbuY

— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) April 20, 2018

For the record, he’s a racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, xenophobic, bigot. All of those words have definitions. His behavior, his public statements, and his legislation over the years all clearly rise to the level of those definitions.

— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) April 21, 2018

You’re a gaslighter who threatens people and then backs down and claims victimhood when you’re called out. It’s the ultimate sign of intellectual dishonesty. Grow up and at least have the courage of your broken convictions.

— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) April 20, 2018

He also made sure the world met Metcalfe's openly LGBTQ challenger, Dan Smith:

HAVE YOU MET DAN SMITH?!? With all the talk (again) about @RepMetcalfe’s bigotry and the power he wields in the State Capitol, I couldn’t me more excited to introduce you to his openly LGBTQ Democratic Challenger!#Smith4Pa #DumpDaryl pic.twitter.com/OTmKIzfMxP

— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) April 23, 2018

Brian saved the best for last as he tweeted this hilarious meme when they see each other at The Capitol:

When I see Daryl Metcalfe in the Capitol next! #LegiBey pic.twitter.com/efe0lv9Weo

— Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) April 21, 2018

Trump Silenced By The Lamb As Democrat Wins Deep Red District In Pennsylvania

NBC News has declared Democrat Conor Lamb the apparent winner of Tuesday's special election in Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District.

With 99% of the votes counted Lamb leads Republican Rick Saccone by 641 votes.

CNBC is reporting the only outstanding votes are the approximately 200 absentee votes in Greene County and the provisional ballots that the district will count within the next seven days. But those don't add up to 641 votes.

Lamb, a former Marine and federal prosecutor, declared victory shortly before 1AM as he was introduced at his election night party as "congressman-elect."

Republicans are quietly wringing their hands in light of the fact that the deep red district (Trump won the 18th in 2016 by 20 point, Romney won in 2012 by 17) has swung 20 points to the Dems in less than two years.

On the day before the election, Republican Rick Saccone made an appearance with Donald Trump Jr. where he declared Democrats hate America and God.

Now, that doesn't sound like an uplifting message, does it?

Trump backed Judge Roy Moore in Alabama in a special election for the U.S. Senate seat there and Moore lost to a Democrat. Trump backed Saccone in Pennsylvania, and Saccone lost.

See a pattern there?

Donald Trump has tweeted four times this morning. Nothing about the race in Pennsylvania.

#SilencedByTheLamb

BREAKING: All absentee ballots counted -- Democrat Conor Lamb leads a Pennsylvania special House election by 627 votes. https://t.co/3ACB7WzUMm

— Vaughn Sterling (@vplus) March 14, 2018

WATCH: @ConorLambPA the apparent winner in last night's special election in Pennsylvania, says he won because he "didn't take a single vote for granted." pic.twitter.com/qYOSEFk3Tq

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 14, 2018

The people of Pennsylvania’s 18th district showed up yesterday. They demonstrated that they want to be represented by someone who stands up for working people with actions, not just words. Who has heart. They found that in @ConorLambPA. He will represent them well.

— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) March 14, 2018

Conor Lamb won 172 precincts won by Trump in ‘16.

Rick Saccone won zero precincts won by Clinton in ‘16. https://t.co/E1qNR3383Y

— Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 14, 2018

.@foxandfriends hosts dismiss @ConorLambPA's victory because "he's cute" and "cuteness counts." pic.twitter.com/18wkXTVyQR

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) March 14, 2018

Pennsylvania: Final Poll Shows Democrat Leads 51/45 In Special Election Tomorrow

In the final poll before tomorrow's special election for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District, the data looks promising for Democrat Conor Lamb over Republican Rick Saccone.

According to Monmouth University polling:

• If turnout mirrors recent special elections that have shown a Democratic surge, Lamb holds a 51% to 45% lead over Saccone.

• Using a historical midterm lower turnout model, Lamb also has a 2-point edge 49% to 47% margin.

• Using a higher turnout model, like those in a presidential election year Lamb leads with a 51% to 44% advantage.

• Lamb rates a 53% favorable and 33% unfavorable rating from likely voters in the district.

• Saccone has a lower favorable rating at 47% favorable and higher unfavorable at 43%.

• More self-identified Democrats (95%) support Lamb, while only 88% of self-identified Republicans support Saccone.

• Independents prefer Lamb by a 51% to 45% margin.

Super-smart statistician Nate Silver notes that a race this close is a very bad sign for Republicans since Donald Trump won this district by 20 points in 2016, and Mitt Romney won it by 17 points in 2012.

All of that being said - if you are in the 18th Congressional District get out and vote tomorrow!

Stating the hopefully-obvious, but the fact that PA-18 is competitive is a really bad sign for Republicans. It voted for Trump by 20 points and Romney by 17.

— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) March 11, 2018

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Issues New Congressional District Map

Click image to enlarge

ABC News reports that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has issued a new congressional district map for the state's 2018 elections.

The new map was approved in a 4-3 decision from the high court and rids the state of bizarrely contorted districts, including one labeled "Goofy Kicking Donald Duck."

Dave Wasserman, the U.S. House editor for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report & a contributor to NBC News and FiveThirtyEight, broke down the new map thusly on Twitter:

Breaking: PA Supreme Court adopts new congressional map, and with few exceptions, it's Democrats' dream come true. GOP not going to like this at all.

Biggest changes to GOP seats: open Meehan seat becomes safe Dem, Costello/Rothfus seats get much more Dem, open Dent seat becomes a Clinton district, open 10th CD becomes a Dem opportunity.

Also, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R) seat in Bucks barely becomes a Clinton district. Overall, Dems have a good chance in up to 11 CDs & an outside chance at a 12th seat in Erie.

Last month, the Keystone state's high court ruled the congressional district map put in place in 2011 by Republicans was a partisan gerrymander that “clearly, plainly and palpably” violated the state’s Constitution.

What new map wins: Democrats are on track to win at least a sixth of all the pick-ups they need to gain the House in Pennsylvania alone. https://t.co/TBpsbPSfP2

— Taniel (@Taniel) February 19, 2018

NEW: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has issued a new congressional map after ruling the old map unconstitutional, a decision that could have major ramifications for the U.S. House of Representatives. https://t.co/MxoTQYw1zr pic.twitter.com/3mc92qNPvS

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) February 19, 2018

This map appears to give Democrats everything they could have hoped for in a politically fair Pennsylvania congressional map. This is a major win against gerrymandering. More analysis to come https://t.co/7uCoeVXppj

— Stephen Wolf (@PoliticsWolf) February 19, 2018

Pennsylvania: GOP Lawmaker Flips Out Over Being Touched On The Arm By Another Man

Ok. Umm, wow.

Wait until you get a load of Pennsylvania state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe.

Metcalfe, a Republican, felt the urge to confirm for everyone attending a meeting of the Penn State House Government Committee that he is indeed heterosexual.

During the meeting ranking Democrat Matt Bradford touched his arm to underscore a point he was making.

Metcalfe stopped all traffic to admonish Bradford saying, “I’m a heterosexual. I have a wife. I love my wife. I don’t like men as you might so stop touching me all the time. Keep your hands to yourself. If you want to touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don’t.”

Metcalfe has a history of anti-LGBT behavior.

As you can see in the clip below, the touch was very innocent.

(I wonder if Metcalfe feels like he's now been sexually harassed???)

By the way: Bradford is married. Married to a woman.

Paranoia much, Mr. Metcalfe?

(Check the response by the woman to Bradford's left).

Jill Stein Officially Files For Election Recount In Pennsylvania

We're filing affidavits in Allegheny County, PA! Voters can kickstart #Recount2016 today: https://t.co/NAN4Ryf6Pw pic.twitter.com/XiZo8VbsDJ

— Dr. Jill Stein (@DrJillStein) November 28, 2016

Pennsylvania: Hillary Clinton Leads By +7

Democrat Hillary Clinton continues to hold a solid 7 point lead in the battleground state of Pennsylvania according to the latest Siena College poll, conducted for The New York Times’ “Upshot."

The survey indicates Clinton ahead of Trump 46% - 39%.

Libertarian Gary Johnson is down in the single digits with 6%, and Green Party nominee Jill Stein lags at 3%.

The poll was conducted Oct. 23-25.

Poll: Hillary Clinton Leads In Pennsylvania +9

More good news for Hillary Clinton today as the latest Franklin & Marshall College Poll shows her now leading Republican Donald Trump by 9 points in Pennsylvania.

The survey shows Clinton with 47% support versus Trump's 38%. Libertarian Gary Johnson receives 5%, while Green Party candidate Jill Stein registers 0% support.

Many see Pennsylvania and Virginia as Clinton's "firewall" keeping Trump from the necessary 270 electoral college votes.

Even if you give Trump Ohio, Iowa and Florida (which Obama won) from the 2012 results, he still can't get across the goal line.

Clinton And Trump In Deadheat In Colorado & Pennsylvania

Now, THIS concerns me.

From CNN:

Just one point separates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in two states that are critical to both candidates' chances of becoming president, according to new CNN/ORC polls in Pennsylvania and Colorado.

In Colorado, likely voters break 42% for Trump, 41% for Clinton, 13% for Libertarian Gary Johnson and 3% for Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

Pennsylvania's likely voters split 45% for Clinton, 44% for Trump, 6% for Johnson and 3% for Stein. Those divides are well within each poll's 3.5-point margin of sampling error.

Colorado and Pennsylvania have been considered fairly solid for Clinton.

Super-stats guy Nate Silver has dropped Hillary's current chances to 52%:

And RealClearPolitics "No Toss Up" map shows Hillary winning the electoral college with only 272 votes. No one wanted to see this get this close.

New Poll: Pennsylvania Race For White House Tightens To Clinton +3

The latest Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll of Pennsylvania likely voters shows Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton’s lead over GOP billionaire Donald Trump has tightened to 3 points in the critical battleground state of Pennsylvania.

This shows a loss of 6 points by Clinton to Trump in one week's time.

When factoring third-party candidates, Clinton holds a 2 point lead, 40 percent to 38 percent. Libertarian Party nominee Gary Johnson garners only 8 percent support, and the Green Party’s Jill Stein has 3 percent.

The biggest factor in the tightened race is due to a jump of 85 percent of likely Republican voters in Pennsylvania supporting Trump, up from 71 percent in the last poll.

The survey is the result of polling 486 likely voters, with a margin of error of 5 percentage points.

These kinds of results are exactly why Clinton supporters need to not become complacent in some battleground states. For weeks now, pundits have called Pennsylvania fairly safe for Clinton.

That said, it's important to not let one poll of less than 500 likely voters cause full-blown panic.

According to the RealClearPolitics average of polls, Clinton leads Trump in Pennsylvania by an average of 5.2 points, 46 percent to 40.8 percent.

The NY Times tracking poll for The UpShot shows Hillary having an 84% chance of winning the Keystone State.

And, Nate Silver's FiveThirtyEight website shows Clinton with a 70% chance of winning Pennsylvania.

Hillary Clinton Up By Double-Digits In Crucial Swing States

Democratic White House hopeful Hillary Clinton gets more good news in the polls from two swing states, Pennsylvania and New Hampshire.

Among likely voters in Pennsylvania, Hillary tops Donald Trump by 11 points 49%/38% according to the latest Franklin and Marshall poll.

Most pundits on both sides of the political spectrum say Trump really needs the Keystone State to win the presidency.

In New Hampshire, the new WBUR poll gives the former Secretary of State a whopping 17 point lead on the Trumpster - 51% to 34%.

New Poll: Clinton Leads Trump In Pennsylvania By 9 Points

A new poll from Suffolk University shows Democrat Hillary Clinton leading GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump by 9 points.

From The Hill:

In a head-to-head matchup, Clinton has 50 percent support and Trump has 41 percent support among likely general-election voters in the battleground state. Another 8 percent are undecided.

In a four-way matchup, including Libertarian nominee Gary Johnson and Green Party candidate Jill Stein, Clinton still holds a 9-point lead over Trump, 46 to 37 percent. Johnson takes 5 percent and Stein takes 3 percent. Another 9 percent are undecided.

In the four-way matchup, Clinton led by 19 points among women, 50 to 31 percent, and Trump leads by 3 points among men, 44 to 41 percent.

Clinton is viewed favorably by 44 percent of respondents and unfavorably by 48 percent. Trump is viewed favorably by only 33 percent of respondents and unfavorably by 57 percent.

The Donald has continually claimed that he will win the traditionally Democratic leaning Pennsylvania. The state hasn't gone for a Republican president since 1988.

Pennsylvania State Rep. Brian Sims Calls

Pennsylvania State Rep. Brian Sims gives an impassioned speech calling for statewide LGBT protections.

From Pennsylvania House Democrats:

Pa. state Rep. Brian Sims stands with Gov. Tom Wolf and other advocates to call on the legislature to pass equal protections for LGBT citizens.

In Pennsylvania, members of the LGBT community can still be denied employment, housing, and other basic rights afforded to others in the general population.

Sims is co-sponsoring the Pennsylvania Fairness Act, H.B. 1510, which would update Pennsylvania’s nondiscrimination law to ensure all residents have equal rights regardless of race, color, religion, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, disability and now, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression.

Pennsylvania: Out Legislator Brian Sims Wins Reelection

LGBT activist state Rep. Brian Sims easily won reelection last night which will send him back to the state General Assembly as the only openly gay legislator in the state.

The woofilicious Sims thanks his supporters immediately via email:

Because of your hard work volunteering and knocking on doors, along with your steadfast generosity, I can announce our campaign was victorious tonight!

This campaign was hard fought, and I am so humbled by your overwhelming support. I am looking forward to continuing the fight in Harrisburg for our shared progressive values and continuing to earn the privilege of serving all of you.

There is so much work to be done to fund our education system, protect women's health care and ensure equality for all Pennsylvanians. I am more motivated than ever to continue the fight.

My most sincere and humble thanks,
Brian

Pennsylvania: Racist Employee Goes On N-Word Rant, Loses Job

A man, identified as John Pisone, goes on racist rant

According to Butler News, a man identified as John Pisone took time out of his day to go on a racist rant during a peaceful protester of a fracking operation in Pennsylvania.

Pisone, who apparently worked for MMC Land Management - a company subcontracted by Rex Energy - was fired after video of his rant went viral.

Via Raw Story:

In a video posted to YouTube on Monday by photojournalist Tom Jefferson, a man wearing work clothes and a camouflage hat is seen approaching anti-fracking activists who are protesting Rex Energy’s drilling operation in the Mars Area School District.

“Have you actually done something with your life, have you had any kind of a job?” the man asks one of the older activists, who laughs in his face.

“Just like this chimp right here,” the man continues, motioning at the camera.

“What did you say?” one of the activists asks.

“Yeah, chimp,” the man replies. “A f*cking n****r right here with a mop on his head. I don’t give a f*ck. He’s milking my f*cking tax dollars.”

Although the man was initially identified by some as an employee of Rex Energy, a statement later revealed that he had worked for MMC Land Management.

“Today, we were disgusted to learn that one of MMC’s former employees used racial slurs and made racially charged comments during a peaceful protest in Mars, Pennsylvania, outside of work hours at a location with which we have no affiliation,” the statement posted to Facebook late on Tuesday explained. “We are sorry that this incident occurred. Whether at work or not, we do not condone hate speech – EVER.”

“MMC has terminated this employee and will never do business with him again in the future.”

Here's the video:

A Facebook page for Pisone was found, but quickly deleted shortly thereafter.

Here's just one sample from his Facebook page: