Phil Hinkle Says 'I'm Not Gay' Amid Sex Scandal Fallout

An Indiana Republican state lawmaker resisting calls to resign after becoming embroiled in a sex scandal insists, "I'm not gay," according to the The Indianapolis Star.

The AP relays background on the controversy:

The Indianapolis Star reported that emails suggest Republican Rep. Phillip Hinkle arranged to pay Kameryn Gibson up to $140 for “for a really good time.” The paper published emails between Hinkle and Gibson detailing a plan for them to meet at a downtown Indianapolis hotel.

The Star reported Hinkle didn’t contest the emails but said he was "aware of a shakedown taking place."

In an interview with local Indiana station 6News on Wednesday, the embattled lawmaker said he made arrangements to meet Gibson in person, but denied any intention of pursuing a sexual encounter. The Star reported earlier this month that Hinkle exposed himself when the pair met in person.

The pair reportedly connected on Craigslist. Gibson indicated in a listing to which Hinkle responded that he is 20 years old. According to the Star, however, Gibson says he is actually just 18.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, a Republican, called the situation "a tragedy."

Hinkle suggested to 6News that his actions were "stupid," but that he did not break the law. "I don't know what was going through my mind," he said. "I don't know why I did what I did."

The Journal Gazette reported earlier this week that Hinkle indicated in a statement that he will not run for reelection in the next election cycle. The Republican lawmaker, however, stood firm in resisting calls for him to resign.

Comments

[serendipindi]

01:35 AM on 09/03/2011

Funny. I sat next to him at a townhall meeting in Speedway, Indiana and I didn't catch any gayness. Not even a sneeze or sniffle.

[truth be told again]

10:39 PM on 08/29/2011

The more I think about that, the more it makes sense (the Christine O'Donnell kind of "sense"): Hinkle could start the 'Ex-Not-Gay' movement. He'd have lots of members (this gets TOO easy), what with Larry "I'm NOT gay!" Craig who could serve as his chief stance-widener.

[Amanda Hatesyou]

06:02 PM on 08/29/2011

I don't care if a legislator is gay or not. I DO care if they hold closeted homoerotic practices and yet initiate and support laws designed to persecute the LGBT community.

[Squidwoman]

05:08 PM on 08/29/2011

" The Republican lawmaker, however, stood firm in resisting calls for him to resign. "

Weiner resigned and he didn't even meet anyone in person.

[truth be told again]

10:29 PM on 08/29/2011

Speaking of 'standing firm' ...

;{O)

[itzkat]

04:51 PM on 08/29/2011

Geesh, another one... this is getting so common now it is not really news.

[SouthernQ2]

04:45 PM on 08/29/2011

Michele Bachmann's husband is not gay either.

[SmileDocMiami]

05:45 PM on 08/29/2011

Neither am I, but my boyfriend is.

[Puck028]

02:21 PM on 08/30/2011

I wouldn't be surprised if both Bachmanns were gay. Though as a member of the gay community, we don't want either of them.

[Benjacomin Bozart]

04:25 PM on 08/29/2011

He just likes going to gyms to shower and ostentatiously drop his soap a lot.

[VA Lady2008]

04:24 PM on 08/29/2011

Ick.

[billy goat]

03:48 PM on 08/29/2011

I saw him over the weekend wearing a teeshirt that says; "I'm not gay, but my boyfriend is."

[Joe Krumbach]

03:30 PM on 08/29/2011

Republican mantra on sex, gay, straight or whatever: "As long as you are paying for it, then you get a pass because paying for it makes it acceptable."

[blackreign]

10:10 PM on 09/04/2011

Yeah, equally as ridiculous as the "I was born Gay" lie.

[jeffeastwood15]

07:58 AM on 09/09/2011

blackreign, does that mean you believe people choose to be sexually attracted to someone? Whatever one is attracted to - be it food, music, art, a fellow human being etc - it's never a choice... you're just attracted to it. At some point you decide whether or not you're going to act on those feelings but you did not choose them. (If blackreign turns out to be a still in elementary school then I will completely understand their lack of knowledge.)

[LoveTheGame]

02:51 PM on 08/29/2011

Mr. Hinkle had better keep his adventuresome tinkle-winkle in his pants and at home from now on!

[Happy Cat]

02:46 PM on 08/29/2011

The closet door is open, you are gay or bi-sexual and ptobably no one cares, except of course your wife ans family. What's offensive is the hypocrisy of this individual. I say shove open that closet door and shine a bright light in. You are what you are and no one except the evangelical zealots care.

[gparks]

02:02 PM on 08/29/2011

Hummmmm ... he didn't know WHAT he was thinking?

LOL ... and he IS thinking .... WE don't know ... either??

WOW ... another Republican who thinks denial is a river in Egypt!

[theiFyoU]

01:39 PM on 08/29/2011

I will assume he was rabidly anti gay?

How long till santorum, the frothy one goes off/gets caught?

[Happy Cat]

02:51 PM on 08/29/2011

Perry wouldn't suprise me either! One that has a problem with an others sexuality, a person they don't even know, is hiding from their own sexual fears of being a homo-sexual.

[practiceempathy]

03:30 PM on 08/29/2011

In junior high there was this athletic kid who made my daily school life a living hell, relentlessly mocking me for being gay.

Years later, after college, I saw him out at a gay club. When I confronted him on all the pain and suffering he caused me he shrugged it off saying, "Eh, you know how hard it is."

Yes, I did.

But I NEVER tormented and riduculed others to deflect from myself. NEVER.

This stuff happens all the time. And that's one of many very valid reasons gays are as ticked off right now as they are.

[haganj3]

04:48 PM on 08/29/2011

I agree with you on that! I've always said that about anyone who is extreme "anti" anything, especially when it comes to sexuality. And yes, Perry wouldn't surprise me one bit.

[practiceempathy]

01:32 PM on 08/29/2011

I'm surprised he could say ANYTHING, considering the **** in his mouth.