PA's Fleck first openly gay GOP state legislator

MARC LEVY, Associated Press

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — The head of a gay rights advocacy group in Pennsylvania says Rep. Mike Fleck is the country's only sitting Republican state legislator who is openly gay.

Ted Martin of Equality Pennsylvania said Monday that Fleck's decision to come out was difficult and asked for people to give Fleck time to adjust.

The 39-year-old Fleck describes himself as a devout Christian. He attended Liberty University, the evangelical school founded by the late Rev. Jerry Falwell, and he represents a conservative district between Altoona and State College.

Fleck first ran for the state House of Representatives in 2006 and was re-elected last month to a fourth two-year term. Martin says a candidate elected to the Ohio House will be the second openly state legislator when he's sworn in in January.