Gay Official Slams Corbett’s Incest Remark

Radio station WITF reports that Terry Mutchler, the state’s open records chief, slammed Gov. Tom Corbett Monday during a speech to the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. At issue: Corbett’s remarks—since apologized for—comparing gay marriage to incest between a brother and a sister.

“I find it sad that a governor with a team of intelligent, thoughtful, and brilliant staff around him, some of whom are gay, has such a basic, fundamental misunderstanding and, quite frankly, an overt meanness on any issue, but let alone a human rights issue,” said Mutchler, who herself is openly gay. She is finishing up her single six-year term in the state job.

Mutchler suggested she did not believe the governor’s apology. “I do not speak in anger and I don’t speak in frustration,” Mutchler said. “I speak more with sadness that the governor made these remarks and provided a half-hearted apology.”

 Meanwhile, the Corbett Administration is trying to end a legal challenge to Pennsylvania’s ban on gay marriage. Bloomberg reports: “Lawyers for Corbett argued on Monday in a court filing that the complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union failed to state a claim upon which relief may be granted. The request was filed in federal court in Harrisburg. A brief in support of the motion will be filed by Oct. 7, according to a court schedule.”