Mike Fleck

Fleck attended Southern Huntingdon County High School and earned a degree in history and a minor in youth ministry in 1995 from Liberty University.{{cite web | title = Rep. Mike Fleck Biography | publisher = Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus | year = 2008 | url = http://www.repfleck.com/?sectionid=2§iontree=2| accessdate = 2009-01-11 }} He has attended graduate courses at Shippensburg University.{{cite web | title = Representative Michael E. 'Mike' Fleck (PA)| work = Project Vote Smart| year = 2008| url = http://www.votesmart.org/bio.php?can_id=60132| accessdate =2009-01-09}} From 1999 to 2004 he worked as a district executive for the Boy Scouts of America in Huntingdon County. Prior to elective office, Fleck worked for Raystown Developmental Services.

Fleck was viewed as being a moderate Republican.{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailylocal.com/article/DL/20121201/NEWS03/121209978|title=Huntington Repub Rep|website=www.dailylocal.com|access-date=2016-05-25}} One of Fleck's main priorities was Charter School Reform.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2012/06/pa_house_member_introduces_bil.html|title=Pa. House member introduces bill to change charter school funding formula|website=PennLive.com|date=4 June 2012|access-date=2016-05-25}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/MP/20120625/NEWS01/120629697|title=Bill exposes divide on reforming Pa. charter schools|website=www.pottsmerc.com|access-date=2016-05-25|archive-date=2016-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160716225900/http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/MP/20120625/NEWS01/120629697|url-status=dead}} Fleck also fought Republican Governor Tom Corbett's proposal to privatizing prison nurses.{{Cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/news/state/2013/05/24/State-prisons-could-outsource-more-mental-health-services/stories/201305240175|title=State prisons could outsource more mental health services|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=2016-05-25}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/05/pennsylvania_prisons_look_at_o.html|title=Pennsylvania prisons look at outsourcing mental health services|website=PennLive.com|date=26 May 2013|access-date=2016-05-25}} Corbett eventually dropped the proposal.{{Cite web|url=http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2012/05/opponents-exhale-as-state-drops-plan-to-privatize-prison-nurses.php|title=Opponents exhale as state drops plan to privatize prison nurses {{!}} State House Sound Bites|publisher=WITF|access-date=2016-05-25|archive-date=2016-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625095418/http://www.witf.org/state-house-sound-bites/2012/05/opponents-exhale-as-state-drops-plan-to-privatize-prison-nurses.php|url-status=dead}} In 2012, Fleck introduced a "Correction's Officer's Bill of Rights".{{Cite web|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2012/09/23/SCI-Pittsburgh-guard-uses-tattoos-to-tell-story-of-firing/stories/201209230212|title=SCI Pittsburgh guard uses tattoos to tell story of firing|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=2016-05-25}} In 2012, Fleck's legislation to merge the Securities Commission into the Department of Banking was passed, creating the Department of Banking and Securities.{{Cite web|url=http://www.cpbj.com/article/20120703/CPBJ01/120709957/new-law-joins-securities-commission-banking-department|title=New law joins securities commission, banking department|website=Central Penn Business Journal|date=3 July 2012|access-date=2016-05-25}}

In late September 2013, Fleck kicked off his re-election bid.{{Cite web|url=https://huntingdondailynews.our-hometown.com/news/2013-09-30/Front_Page/state_rep_seeks_reelection_bid.html|title=state rep. seeks re-election bid {{!}} September 30, 2013 {{!}} The Daily News serving Huntingdon, Mount Union, Orbisonia, and Saxton PA|website=The Daily News|access-date=2016-07-03|archive-date=2016-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809211616/https://huntingdondailynews.our-hometown.com/news/2013-09-30/Front_Page/state_rep_seeks_reelection_bid.html|url-status=dead}} Frank Bruni profiled Mike Fleck in the Sunday New York Times on September 29, 2013. On November 14, 2013, Huntingdon County Treasurer Rich Irvin announced he was running against Fleck; Irvin stated "I am not going to accept money from special interest groups, my campaign is going to be funded from within the district boundaries … I do not want to run any kind of negative campaign."{{Cite web|url=https://huntingdondailynews.our-hometown.com/news/2013-11-14/Front_Page/Treasurer_to_run_for_state_rep_seat.html|title=Treasurer to run for state rep. seat {{!}} November 14, 2013 {{!}} The Daily News serving Huntingdon, Mount Union, Orbisonia, and Saxton PA|website=The Daily News|access-date=2016-07-03|archive-date=2016-08-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809224826/https://huntingdondailynews.our-hometown.com/news/2013-11-14/Front_Page/Treasurer_to_run_for_state_rep_seat.html|url-status=dead}}

Meanwhile, Fleck was criticized for raising money during the annual Pennsylvania Society weekend in New York City, whereupon prominent Manhattan Democratic power couple Victor and Betsy Gotbaum hosted a fundraiser for Fleck in their home.{{Cite web|url=http://articles.philly.com/2013-12-18/news/45298770_1_sims-marc-cherry-fund-raiser|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920034058/http://articles.philly.com/2013-12-18/news/45298770_1_sims-marc-cherry-fund-raiser|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 20, 2015|title=Two gay Pa. politicians gain in the fund-raising game|access-date=2016-07-03}} Betsy Gotbaum was the former New York City Public Advocate, and Victor Gotbaum was the executive director of DC 37, the largest and wealthiest union in the country; the Gotbaum's are close friends of Fleck and his partner Warren Licht.{{Cite web|url=http://mediatrackers.org/pennsylvania/2014/01/10/former-nyc-union-boss-hosts-fundraiser-pa-rep-mike-fleck|title=Former NYC Union Boss Hosts Fundraiser for PA Rep. Mike Fleck|date=2014-01-10|language=English|access-date=2016-07-03|archive-date=2016-08-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808044608/http://mediatrackers.org/pennsylvania/2014/01/10/former-nyc-union-boss-hosts-fundraiser-pa-rep-mike-fleck|url-status=usurped}}

Fleck told the Altoona Mirror, "People know that we don't differ on the fundamental issues the district is facing and that at the end of the day, he was simply recruited to run against me because I announced that I was gay".{{Cite web|url=http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/581923/Candidate-for-81st-District-seat-has-name-removed-from-ballot.html?nav=742|title=Candidate for 81st District seat has name removed from ballot|work=Altoona Mirror|access-date=2016-07-03}} In April 2014, Rich Irvin was kicked off the ballot for failing to file a Financial Statement of Ethics.{{Cite web|url=http://www.altoonamirror.com/page/content.detail/id/585477/Fleck-fighting-to-retain-his-seat.html|title=Fleck fighting to retain his seat|website=Altoona Mirror|access-date=2016-07-03}}

Irvin waged an aggressive write-in campaign, going as far as to engage local churches to distribute campaign material from the anti-gay group the American Family Association. Irvin told the Altoona Mirror. "I absolutely do believe that I had support from different church organizations throughout the district. I'm proud of it."

On May 20, 2014, Irvin beat Fleck on the republican ballot, however, Fleck managed to win the write-in on the democratic ballot by 15 votes.

The day after the election Fleck stated "I am gay. I don't wear it on my sleeve, it doesn't define who I am, and quite frankly it's the least interesting part about me … Nevertheless, I knew that when I came out this race would be nothing more, nothing less than whether my constituency could wrap their mind around the fact that I was a gay man. People fear that which is different."{{Cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/26/mike-fleck-gay-election_n_5392039.html|title=GOP Lawmaker: Gay Rep. Should Have Stayed In The Closet|first=Alana|last=Horowitz|date=2014-05-26|website=The Huffington Post|access-date=2016-07-03}}{{Cite web|url=http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/mike-fleck-john-eichelberger-openly-gay|title=Pennsylvania Lawmaker: GOP Colleague Should Have Stayed In The Closet|date=26 May 2014|access-date=2016-07-03}}

State Senator John Eichelberger told the Altoona Mirror "A lot of people thought that Mike was a homosexual" before 2012, and it wasn't an issue, Eichelberger said. "He didn't announce it and it was OK. The feeling from many people is, he put them in a very uncomfortable position. If he had just gone about his business and people thought he was a homosexual or heterosexual or whatever, there wouldn't be a problem."[34] Eichelberger's confirmation that the race was about Fleck being gay and not his politics was picked up by the national media.{{Cite web|url=https://www.msnbc.com/way-too-early/goper-gay-senator-should-not-have-gone-public|title=Republican candidate criticized for coming out as gay|website=MSNBC|date=27 May 2014 |access-date=2016-07-03}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rawstory.com/2014/05/pa-lawmaker-fellow-gop-legislator-put-his-reelection-at-risk-by-admitting-hes-gay/|title=PA lawmaker: Fellow GOP legislator put his reelection at risk by admitting he's gay|website=www.rawstory.com|date=27 May 2014|access-date=2016-07-03}}{{Cite web|url=http://instinctmagazine.com/post/lawmaker-says-gay-pa-state-rep-mike-fleck-should-have-stayed-closeted-win-reelection|title=Lawmaker Says Gay PA State Rep. Mike Fleck Should Have Stayed Closeted To Win Reelection|website=Instinct Magazine|access-date=2016-07-03|archive-date=2016-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914044929/http://instinctmagazine.com/post/lawmaker-says-gay-pa-state-rep-mike-fleck-should-have-stayed-closeted-win-reelection|url-status=dead}} Senator Eichelberger's district encompasses Fleck's legislative district, Eichelberger is known for his anti-gay views.{{Cite web|url=http://keystonepolitics.com/2012/12/awkward/|title=Awkward!|language=English|access-date=2016-07-03}}

Irvin later acknowledge there were negative attacks against Fleck because of his sexual orientation.{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2014/06/04/318888341/after-state-lawmaker-comes-out-campaign-becomes-battle-of-write-ins|title=After State Lawmaker Comes Out, Campaign Becomes Battle Of Write-ins|website=NPR.org|access-date=2016-07-03}}

The negative attacks against Fleck's sexual orientation continued throughout the fall campaign. In October 2014, Huntingdon County Republican Committeeman Tom Ritchey posted a crude sex drawing depicting two men having sex and compared it to Fleck.{{Cite web|url=http://www.centredaily.com/news/article42866901.html|title=Attacks get personal in 81st District; Huntingdon GOP committeeman posts crude drawing aimed at Rep. Fleck|access-date=2016-07-03}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/2014/10/31/republican_official_posts_crude_sex_drawing_attacking_gay_pennsylvania_legislator/|title=Republican official posts crude sex drawing attacking gay Pennsylvania legislator|last=Brinker|first=Luke|website=Salon|date=31 October 2014|access-date=2016-07-03}}

Fleck lost to Irvin in the general election in November 2014.

Fleck's current partner, Dr. Warren Licht,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/29/opinion/bruni-the-log-cabin-republican.html|title=The Log Cabin Republican|last=Bruni|first=Frank|date=2013-09-28|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-07}} is a prominent New York City physician; in April 2016 he was named one of the top 50 over 50 in New York City.{{Cite web|url=http://cityandstateny.com/articles/personality/50-over-fifty/50-over-fifty-2016.html#.VzOIyetqFSo|title=50 over Fifty 2016|website=cityandstateny.com|date=8 April 2016 |access-date=2016-07-07}} Licht is the former Chief Medical Officer of New York Downtown Hospital.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/03/nyregion/nowhere-to-go-patients-linger-in-hospitals-at-a-high-cost.html|title=Nowhere to Go, Patients Linger in Hospitals, at a High Cost|last=Roberts|first=Sam|date=2012-01-02|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-07}} New York Downtown Hospital was a few blocks from the World Trade Center; on Sept. 11th Dr. Licht took a leading role in managing the medical response.{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-aug-28-na-hospital28-story.html|title=At N.Y. Downtown Hospital, 9/11 Is Still Raw|last=Hamilton|first=Walter|date=2006-08-28|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|language=English|issn=0458-3035|access-date=2016-07-07}} Licht is frequently quoted in the press on medical issues.{{Cite web|url=http://www.livescience.com/52041-carter-guinea-worm.html|title=Jimmy Carter: I Want the 'Last Guinea Worm to Die Before I Do'|website=Live Science|date=September 2015|access-date=2016-07-07}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/27/nyregion/preparing-for-hurricane-babies.html|title=Preparing for Hurricane Babies|last=Roberts|first=Sam|date=2013-05-26|newspaper=The New York Times|issn=0362-4331|access-date=2016-07-07}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbsnews.com/news/avoid-colds-and-flu-when-you-fly/|title=How to avoid colds and flu when you fly|website=CBS News|date=24 November 2015 |access-date=2016-07-07}}

Fleck came out as a gay man on December 1, 2012.{{cite web | title = Republican State Rep. Mike Fleck: I'm Gay | publisher = Politicspa.com | year = 2012 | url = http://www.politicspa.com/republican-state-rep-mike-fleck-im-gay-2/44597/ | accessdate = 2012-12-01}} He and Democratic Rep. Brian Sims share the designation of the first openly gay members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.{{cite web | title = Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Article II, Sec. 2 | url = http://sites.state.pa.us/PA_Constitution.html | accessdate = 2013-12-17}} However, most media outlets recognize Fleck as the first openly gay legislator as Sims wasn't sworn into office yet.{{Cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/stacylambe/republican-state-rep-mike-fleck-comes-out|title=A First: Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike Fleck Comes Out|website=BuzzFeed|date=December 2012 |access-date=2016-07-07}} Fleck was one of just two openly gay Republican state legislators in the United States, alongside Ohio state representative Tim Brown, who was sworn into office a month later.

Source:{{Cite web|url=http://votesmart.org/candidate/biography/60132/michael-fleck#.VzTbUatqG_U|title=The Voter's Self Defense System|website=Project Vote Smart|language=English|access-date=2016-07-03}}

Huntingdon County Preservation Award (Huntingdon County Historical Society), 1995

Top 20 Under 40" in 2013 by the Altoona Mirror

Bob O'Connor Leadership Award, Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, 2008

Tom Zuber Award Service Employees International Union Healthcare Pennsylvania (SEIU HCPA) 2012

Vigil Honor, Order of the Arrow (Monaken Lodge), 2000

Keystone Award, Pennsylvania Student Equality Coalition, 2013

Pennsylvania's "Foremost Under 40" by the Pennsylvania Business Central

Richard Crawford Award, Saint Francis Small Business Development Center, 2011

{{Reflist}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141019063057/http://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/home/member_information/House_bio.cfm?id=1097 Pennsylvania House of Representatives – Mike Fleck – Official PA House website]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20141126153311/http://www.repfleck.com/ Pennsylvania House Republican Caucus - Representative Mike Fleck – Official Party website]

{{CongLinks |votesmart=60132}}

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Category:Liberty University alumni

Category:Living people

Category:Republican Party members of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

Category:People from Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

Category:Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania alumni

Category:American gay politicians

Category:LGBTQ state legislators in Pennsylvania

Category:Gay Christians

Category:1973 births

Category:21st-century members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly