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'I'm heterosexual... please stop touching my arm' - lawmaker interrupts meeting after male colleague touches his arm

December 7, 2017

A Pennsylvanian lawmaker has been caught on video halting a public meeting after being touched on the arm.

Video of the meeting shows State Representative Daryl Metcalfe objecting to fellow State Representative Matt Bradford tapping his arm slightly while talking, as he interjected Mr Bradford mid-sentence to announce - he is a heterosexual.

“I have a wife, I love my wife. I don't like men as you might," Mr Metcalfe began.

"Stop touching me all the time."

The unexpected outburst caused laughs around the meeting, however Mr Metcalfe was not amused.

"Keep your hands to yourself. Like if you want to touch somebody, you have people on your side of the aisle that might like it. I don't," said Mr Metcalfe.

Mr Metcalfe's comments are now under scrutiny from the Governor of Pennsylvania.

Tom Wolf took to Twitter to share his thoughts on Mr Metcalfe's remarks, saying they were "offensive" and "discriminatory".

"I urge House leadership to re-examine whether it is appropriate for him to continue controlling a committee that oversees civil rights legislation," Mr Wolf said.

A gay and transgender rights group as well as a health care workers' union have requested the Republican Party strip him of his duties, according to the Pennsylvanian publication The Morning Call.

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