Philadelphia politics just got really weird. Democratic State Representative Babette Josephs claims her primary opponent, Gregg Kravitz, is masquerading as a bisexual to pander to the GLBT vote, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer.
Josephs made the allegation at a fundraising event where her comments were surrepticiously recorded and provided to the newspaper:
“I outed him as a straight person,” Josephs said during a fund-raiser at the Black Sheep Pub & Restaurant, as some in the audience gasped or laughed, “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, said that he is sexually attracted to both men and women and called Josephs’ comments offensive.
“That kind of taunting is going to make it more difficult for closeted members of the LGBT community to be comfortable with themselves,” Kravitz said. “It’s damaging.”
But others see it differently:
“We’ve hit a new high point when candidates are accused of pretending to be gay to win a seat,” said Mark Segal, publisher of the Philadelphia Gay News and a pioneering civil rights advocate.
“I’ve been doing this for 40 years, and I never have heard of this kind of charge in any race in the nation,” he said. “I take that as flattery. It shows how far we’ve come.”
This campaign was made for sound bites:
In an interview, Josephs said she stood by her comments about Kravitz. She said her opponent told her he was gay, then showed up at a campaign event with a woman who introduced herself as his girlfriend. On the trail, Kravitz has described himself as a “proud member of the LGBT community,” and he discussed his bisexual orientation while pitching Liberty City for its endorsement.
“He’s said so many things to so many different people that I am puzzled,” said Josephs, a widow. The issue is Kravitz’s credibility, she said, adding that she did not like identity politics.
“My sexuality is not a qualification for office,” Kravitz said. “I bring it up only in the context that it’s important for the LGBT community to have a seat at the legislative table.” He said that it would be good for “right-wing” lawmakers in the capital to work with an openly bisexual colleague.
Kravitz denied that he had ever talked to Josephs about his sexuality, and said he did not recall telling people that he “swings both ways.”
Segal, who is supporting Josephs, said he had no reason to doubt Kravitz. “I take him at his word,” Segal said. He added that he believed Kravitz had a bright future in politics, but that it was important for lesbian, gay, and bisexual activists to reward political allies regardless of their personal orientation.
Kravitz is Center City’s second self-identified bisexual candidate in as many election cycles. Anne Dicker, a married anticasino activist who ran unsuccessfully for the First District state Senate then held by Vincent J. Fumo, advertised her bisexual orientation.
I’m a little suspicious of political candidates who claim to be bisexuals because they seem to want to have it both ways, as it were. Of course, it could be a preemptive move that pre-diffuses the inevitable scandal that would occur if Kravitz were to win and then get caught out on a date at a gay club.
In that scenario, perhaps it makes sense for any politician to claim to be bisexual — as a precaution against future peccadilloes.
