World

PA Rep. Accuses Gregg Kravitz of Pretending to Be Bi for Gay Vote

by Susan Marie Kovalinsky | April 22, 2010 at 09:32 am

341 views | 6 Recommendations | 2 comments

Gay Political News

Philadelphia Rep. Babette Josephs Accuses primary challenger Gregg Kravitz of pandering to LGBT voters
Signorile Holds Gay Town Hall in DC
This week Obama heckled by gay advocates

A Pennsylvania state representative from Philadelphia is accusing her male primary challenger of pretending to be bisexual in order to pander to the district’s LGBT voters.

The Philadelphia Inquirer, has reported that in the 182nd state house district, Babette Josephs (D., Phila.) last week made accusations about her primary opponent, Gregg Kravitz, of a pretense of bisexuality for the purpose of gaining the LGBT vote. These voters make up a powerful voting bloc in the City Center district.

Outed as straight: Josephs says Kravitz is lying about being Bi

"I outed him as a straight person," said Josephs during a fund-raiser, according to the Inquirer, "and now he goes around telling people, quote, 'I swing both ways.' That's quite a respectful way to talk about sexuality. This guy's a gem."

Kravitz, 29, in a statement to the paper has said he is bisexual and that the taunting is offensive.

Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal said that it is a "high point" when politicians now pretend to be gay, rather than the past tactics of gays posing as straight.

Josephs, 70, has won the backing of gay leaders like Segal and Philadelphia’s LGBT political club, "The Liberty City Democrats". Josephs has worked to block the passage of a constitutional amendment against same-sex marriage, and has advocated for the addition of sexual orientation to the list of traits on hate crimes legislation.