If elected to the state House — a goal he’s eagerly pursuing — Bryan Tate would bring Pennsylvania’s total number of out state lawmakers to three. Tate, 46, is running next week for state representative for the 95th District in York. If he wins, he would be Pennsylvania’s first out Republican candidate to be elected to state office. Republican state Rep. Mike Fleck came out last year after being re-elected, joining Democratic Rep. Brian Sims as Pennsylvania’s only out state lawmakers. Tate, a York native, graduated from Spring Grove High School in 1985 and went on to earn his bachelor’s in broadcast journalism from Temple University in 1989. He currently serves as vice president of philanthropy at York County Community Foundation, which generates funding for community-improvement projects. “I have been in this role at the foundation for 10 years, which gives me the ability to be a leader of my community,” Tate said. “We are growing a large endowment and every year I am raising money for the future of this community. We take leadership on various issues — not just raising dollars and grants, but by supporting top decisions that are needed to improve the overall community.” Tate is also involved in the Rotary Club of York and the revitalization program Downtown Inc., and serves as president of the board of Central Pennsylvania Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership. Being an out lawmaker could help push Republican leadership on LGBT issues, he said, although his experience and leadership skills would also be vital. “I think that the role I have always played in my community is to use my abilities and sincere interests to build relationships,” Tate said. “Regardless of the issues faced in Harrisburg, it will also provide me an ability to help other members in the Republican caucus to grow in understanding of equality issues, but also to serve as role models [for those] who aspire to leadership.” Tate will challenge Democrat Kevin Schreiber and Green Party candidate Bill Swartz May 21 for the seat vacated by Eugene DePasquale, who left office to become auditor general. Tate was backed by the Republican Party in York. “I had unanimous support from other Republicans and, on top of that, all of our York County legislators are on board supporting me. I think that there has been so much growth in my community towards understanding all types of people, towards appreciation for diversity and for approval of people’s abilities instead of their personal background. I have been enthusiastically embraced and supported and proud that so many people in my community are on board.” Tate said his background in working on community-revitalization projects would be integral in helping him approach fellow lawmakers on LGBT issues. “When you are part of a team, you work with those members of the team to help support issues that are important to community, so we all learn from each other,” he said, adding he has already developed ties with Republican state lawmakers in the York County area. “I have been building relationships with them and I think that I have gained their trust over all those years. They’re open to hearing ideas from me and that is definitely something I bring to the table.” Tate was recently endorsed by The Victory Fund and said his campaign has gone smoothly so far. “My campaign is a grassroots-based, issue-oriented campaign, meaning our way of promoting my campaign is through individual people,” he said. “We go door-to-door, talking to people, sharing information with them about me and to come out and vote.” Tate said he would be eager to work on issues such as local tax reform, education reform and economic development and would back LGBT-specific legislation like HB 300. Tate, who married his partner, Ralph, in Baltimore, understands the frustration LGBT and ally Pennsylvanians experience with the state’s lack of relationship recognition for same-sex couples. “I am already a supporter of marriage equality and that is not just personal, but overall as I look around our nation, I see other states that are realizing we are in a new day and we need to honor all people in our country,” he said. “I think Pennsylvania needs to step up and provide the same equality to LGBT persons that it provides to everyone else.” For more information on Tate, visit www.tateforpa.com.