Report: Gay Lawmaker Seeks to Censure Rep. Daryl Metcalfe After Remarks

A Democratic lawmaker from Philadelphia who is openly gay has asked the state House of Representatives to censure Rep. Daryl Metcalfe.

According to the Associated Press, Rep. Brian Sims said Metcalfe prevented him from making floor remarks about the Supreme Court's gay marriage ruling.

He asked the legislators Thursday to reprimand Metcalfe, R-Cranberry, at the close of session because of an interview Metcalfe gave to a radio station detailing why he prevented Sims from speaking on the topic during session.

"His comments did not live up to the standards set by this body," Sims said on the floor.

Metcalfe told NewsWorks/WHYY that Sims' comments would have been "open rebellion against God's law." 

"I did not believe that as a member of that body that I should allow someone to make comments such as he was preparing to make that ultimately were just open rebellion against what the word of God has said, what God has said, and just open rebellion against God's law," he said. 

He told The Associated Press late Thursday he stood by those remarks.

"For me to allow him to say things that I believe are open rebellion against God are for me to participate in his open rebellion," Metcalfe told the AP. "There's no free speech on the floor."

Members have the right under House rules to veto another's remarks under "unanimous consent.”

When Sims got up to speak on Wednesday, Metcalfe and at least one other representative withdrew their consent, the AP reports. He spoke on the floor Thursday under a different rule, called point of personal privilege.

House Speaker Sam Smith, R-Jefferson, told Sims Thursday the proper procedure under the circumstances would be either going through the Ethics Committee or seeking a House resolution. Sims said he plans to pursue the matter.

"This is a guy who hates women, he hates gay people, he hates minorities and he hates immigrants," Sims told the AP.

A conservative who introduced the "Marriage Protection Amendment" defining marriage as a bond between one man and one woman, Metcalfe said the comments Sims would have made about the high court's decisions would have been "ultimately offensive to the majority of my constituents, and myself."

He added "there were many" of his fellow Republicans who shared his objections, while Sims said he "spent all day yesterday hearing from Republicans" who sided with him.

Sims announced Thursday he would introduce a bill to legalize same-sex marriages in the state, according to the AP.