You have to be an example to our kids that hate has no place in Pennsylvania," wrote Matt Haslam, the group's Interim Vice President. But if you want to be considered family friendly, you have to be accepting of all families, not just some. For us adults, we’ve grown to accept it and adapt though admittedly, we shouldn’t have to adapt to be treated as equals. Our community knows that some people will hate us just because we are LGBTQ. "After you deleted that post, I know you might assume that very little harm was done but I assure you that you have caused irreversible damage. In a lengthy social media post, the PA Equality Project demanded the Bloomsburg Fair issue an apology. Some people said they plan to boycott the Bloomsburg Fair in September. The dunk tank and post were met with swift condemnation online from the public and LGBTQ rights groups.
(Photo by Bonnie Jo Mount/The Washington Post via Getty Images) Levine is transgender and has a close relationship with her mother. HARRISBURG, PA,- MAY 16: Rachel Levine, MD, physician general for the state of Pennsylvania, dines with her mother Lillian Levine, in Harrisburg, PA, on May 16, 2016. “It wasn’t done to disrespect her.”Ĭalls to the volunteer fire company were not answered. “It was just in fun,” Broadt told the newspaper. He told the paper he was "going for a Marilyn Monroe look," but played along when someone asked about him not wearing a face mask. The Press Enterprise newspaper serving Bloomsburg identified the man in the photos as Main Township Fire Chief David Broadt. Rachel Levine, and that was no intention at all,” said he said. It turned into where people thought we were offending Dr.
“A fellow dressed up in a dress to get people to throw balls at the dunk tank to raise money. Lavine’s transgender identity or any other discriminatory comments," the statement went on to say.Īt a news conference on Tuesday, Bloomsburg Fair president Randy Karschner apologized. "The Bloomsburg Fair and the sponsors of the event do not endorse any comments which arose subsequent to the event which disparage Dr. Levine's name was misspelled throughout the statement.
A Facebook message was marked as "seen," but NBC10 has yet to receive a response.Īn unidentified member of the Lime Ridge Fire Company, one of the beneficiaries of the fundraiser, said the volunteer group had nothing to do with the exhibit.įair officials provided a statement to FOX56, a local TV affiliate in the region, saying it was not a "commentary on Dr.
The fair office's voice mailbox was full and the main email address was deactivated. Messages left with Bloomsburg Fair representatives were not answered. Rachel Levine in a dunk tank, has since been deleted from the Bloomsburg Fair's page. This facebook post, showing a man dressed as Dr.
Some of the criticism has included personal attacks on her gender identity.
Tom Wolf's decision-making on the COVID-19 pandemic, Levine has been a frequent target of ire from residents upset over shutdowns and restrictions like mandatory face mask mandates. She is one of the highest-profile trans individuals in public office.Īs the person guiding Pennsylvania Gov. Levine, a well-regarded pediatrician by training, is transgender and in addition to heading up the commonwealth's public health efforts, acts as the chief medical officer overseeing the state's coronavirus response. The bearded man was wearing a dress and blonde wig - the same color hair as Pennsylvania's health secretary, Dr. Thanks everyone that came out to support our local fire companies." Wonder why so many were trying to dunk you. Levine? Thank you you were a hit and raised a lot of money for local fire companies. Trucker Who Beat NJ Senate President Apologizing for Xenophobic Posts