Newark, Delaware City Councilman Comes Out, Though You’d Know That If You Were on Facebook

ezra-temkoNewark, Del. City Councilman Ezra Temko came out as bisexual in an an interview with the Newark Post today, while pushing for and winning an inclusion of “gender identity and expression” into the city’s non-discrimination policy. Temko thinks that the disclosure is no big deal, saying “When I was running for council, I was single, so it really didn’t come up. [My boyfriend] Drew [Phillips] and I go to public events together and our relationship is fairly obvious on Facebook. I think everyone who would normally know I’m dating someone knows I’m dating Drew.”

The Newark Posts reports:

“Temko, who grew up in Newark and graduated from Cab Calloway School of the Arts, said he came to a greater understanding of sexual orientation while attending Oberlin College in Ohio.

“During college, I was in a very inclusive environment that embraced everyone, instead of accepting norms as legitimate on face value,” he said. “I was able, in this environment, to explore who I was and realize that I’m bi-sexual. I always assumed I would end up with a girl; then I met Drew.”…

Temko said he first began by getting involved with organizations that advocate for gay, lesbian and transgender rights in Delaware.

“From that, I began to see what states and municipalities around the country are doing and I asked myself, ‘Why isn’t Newark doing this,’” he said. “I also was approached by a Newark resident who asked me to pursue a city ordinance prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Those two things led me to introduce my proposals on Monday.”…

Council also unanimously agreed to research a pair of substantially more progressive measures including the extension of city health care benefits to municipal employees’ domestic/life partners and the creation of a city domestic/life partner registry, which would serve as a legally verifiable database. The registry, Temko said, would allows same-sex couples to prove their committed status, thereby qualifying for any domestic/life partner benefits offered by their employer or visitation rights at certain health care facilities.

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