Colleague Tells Montco Lawmaker 'I Don't Like Men' After Arm Pat

A state representative from Montgomery County was told by a fellow House colleague on Tuesday that "he doesn't like men" after he touched his colleague on the arm briefly during a committee discussion on a land use bill.

The comments were directed at Rep. Matt Bradford (D-70), who, while speaking on the subject of landlocked easements and roads, touched State Rep. Daryl Metcalfe's (R-12) forearm for a brief moment.

“Look, I’m a heterosexual," Metcalfe, who is Chairman of the House State Government Committee, interrupted. "I have a wife, I love my wife. I don’t like men, as you might. But stop touching me all the time."

After a short pause, in which other committee members seemed torn between laughter and shock, Metcalfe continued.

"Keep your hands to yourself," he went on. "If you want to touch somebody, like, you have people on your side of the aisle who might like it. I don't."

Bradford, who is married to a woman, couldn't keep from laughing (the pertinent section of the meeting was captured on video and can be viewed below).

The comments drew ire from those who called it an attack on the LGBTQ community.

"PA State Representative Daryl Metcalfe...the most noted homophobe in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, just dramatically interrupted a voting meeting of the Committee to declare his heterosexuality...during debate on a land use bill!" Philadelphia's State Rep. Brian Sims (D-182), who is openly gay, wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday.

The incident also drew a response from activist groups like Equality Pennsylvania, a nonprofit advocating for the LGBTQ community.

"He is unfit to hold such a position after today's anti-gay tirade," the organization said, urging citizens to call for his dismissal.

In an interview with Philly.com Tuesday, Metcalfe alleged that Bradford has continually "reached out and touched him" over the past few months. In response Bradford says that he touched Metcalfe's arm to keep the latter from interrupting him, which he says Metcalfe does often when he hears views he disagrees with.

Metcalfe has long fought against gay marriage and various related causes. When Sims himself tried to make a speech on the House floor after the Defense Against Marriage Act was struck down by U.S. Congress in 2013, Metcalfe was among those who blocked him.

Metcalfe said that Sims' words would have been an "open rebellion against God's law."

Image via Youtube screenshot