Echoes of the holocaust resounded around the state Capitol this afternoon as Sen. John Eichelberger refused to recant, apologize for or explain his recent statement about gays and lesbians: "we're allowing them to exist."
Sen. John "Himmler" Eichelberger met briefly with gay and straight protesters after ducking them twice as a group of twenty people asked for an apology for his horrific statements recently about GLBT people. The Senator steadfastly refused to apologize or make any explanation for saying "we're allowing them to exist" in a WHYY debate with Sen. Daylin Leach about gay and lesbian issues.
I asked the Senator if he meant he has the right to deny my existence and he refused to respond while ducking into the Senate chamber and leaving security to bar me.
I've heard few more explosive statements from legislators than this one. It implies the state, especially since this bigot is a State Senator, can deny us our right to exist. This harkens back to the days of the holocaust and various campaigns of genocide by majority populations against minorities. Sen. Eichelberger has introduced legislation legalizing discrimination against GLBT people in Pennsylvania and it is a slippery slope to go from there to denying certain people their right to exist.
Any state legislator co-sponsoring or voting with Sen. Eichelberger stands with him in his statements. Anyone supporting his extremism will be considered as supporting his statements and positions.
I found it incredible that the Senator would offer no explanation for his comments. The fact he knew we would be at his office at noon and chose not to be there showed his cowardice. It was not until we waited an hour and returned that his receptionist allowed us a few minutes with the Senator in an additional hour. Then he refused to spend more than a moment and refused to answer simple questions hiding behind Capitol security.
John Eichelberger has shown his true colors and his true agenda: he only allows allows gays and lesbians to exist and can revoke that right with legislation. The fact he is a Senator is frightening because he can introduce such legislation at any time. Perhaps it is time for every gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered person in Pennsylvania to stand up and insist they be allowed to exist. Perhaps it is time for all GLBT people in America to boycott Pennsylvania. Why would anyone come here or do business here in this climate of hatred, bigotry and fear?
Update: Sen. Himmler again showed what a coward he is by not showing up for a second radio debate with Sen. Daylin Leach this evening. Maybe he was afraid what else he might say...
More video:
This is Mike Morrill of Keystone Progress speaking to reporters including me.