An openly gay Pennsylvania lawmaker has drawn backlash after he “welcomed” Vice President Mike Pence to Philadelphia with a picture of himself flipping the bird.

“Get bent, then get out!” state Rep. Brian Sims, of Philadelphia, wrote in a Facebook post Tuesday ahead of Mr. Pence’s visit to a fundraiser for Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner.

“Vice President Mike Pence, let me be the first person to officially welcome you to the City of Brotherly Love, and to my District in the State House!” Mr. Sims wrote. “To be clear, we’re a City of soaring diversity. We believe in the power of all people to live and to contribute: Black, Brown, Queer, Trans, Atheist, Immigrant, we want you and we’ll respect you.”

“So keep that in mind while you’re here raising money to attack more families, spread more lies, blaspheme with your bible, and maybe even talk to a woman without your wife in the room,” he added. “We have plenty of them, and they’re pretty much all more powerful and more real than you have ever been.”

The picture accompanying Mr. Sims‘ post showed the Democrat looking intensely into the camera and giving a one-fingered salute.

Mr. Sims‘ Center City office was locked when a local Fox affiliate tried to get him on camera. A rep later said Mr. Sims had no comment, but he wound up spending a considerable amount of time defending himself on Twitter. It appeared that the Trump administration’s immigration policies at the border are what set him off.

Wait, you were able to explain in less than one day why locking children in concentration camps is OK. Grabbing women by the pussies is OK. Making fun of the disabled is OK. Colluding with our national enemies is OK. But you got hung up on a middle finger?!? #SoVirtuous https://t.co/rRV9hGHK4A — Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) June 19, 2018

Please, people who support Concentration Camps for children, tell me more about your moral outrage! Nevermind, you’re broken… — Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) June 19, 2018

Don’t even try to pretend that Pence has LGBT chops. He’s responsible for a massive HIV outbreak in Indiana. He believes that LGBT people should be subject to electroshock. You can do this whole: You’re intolerant of our intolerance so you’re intolerant too, thing but don’t lie. — Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) June 19, 2018

Yeah, well all the time we’re wondering why the Right puts children in Concentration Camps….so not the same really. — Brian Sims (@BrianSimsPA) June 19, 2018

Yes, you’re definitely an expert on candor, courage, and BS. Wait, you actually have a broken moral compass so save your rant for someone who doesn’t see right through you. pic.twitter.com/3MjnobNwYK

Mr. Pence and Mr. Wagner both appeared undeterred by Mr. Sims‘ outburst.

Proud to be in Philadelphia today campaigning for @realScottWagner- the next great governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania! Scott will fight for all the hardworking people of Pennsylvanian! Support Scott Wagner & #FixPA! — Mike Pence (@mike_pence) June 20, 2018

Thank you for your support tonight, @mike_pence! I look forward to working with you and @realDonaldTrump to make sure Pennsylvania sees the benefits of the national economic boom. #FixPA https://t.co/akYWqo3J60 — Scott R. Wagner (@realScottWagner) June 20, 2018

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