Pennsylvania senator Jim Ferlo made a giant leap forward for the LGBT community with his casual coming-out moment on Tuesday Sept. 23. Unlike the past confessions of many public figures, Ferlo’s announcement was unique for its blunt and matter-of-fact manner.

“I’m gay. Get over it. I love it. It’s a great life,” he stated.

Ferlo and other lawmakers originally gathered at the state capital in Harrisburg to propose and discuss Pennsylvania’s hate crimes law to cover LGBT individuals. However, the proposal took a turn from routine when Ferlo made his public admission.

“I’ve been a practicing homosexual…since at least the age of 24 or 25. I didn’t need a psychiatrist or psychologist. I just decided this was something normal for me, comfortable,” Ferlo said. “It was just something that seemed natural.”

Although this is not the first time homosexuality has been revealed in politics, the casual nature of his announcement has been seen by many as a sign of progress in the LGBT community’s public presence. Ferlo’s use of the word “normal” reinforces the idea that being gay is a natural variation in sexuality.

“The confidence Ferlo displayed embodies the movement away from being ashamed of one’s sexual orientation. Even less than a decade ago, there was much more hesitation among LGBT figures to come out, and Ferlo’s poised declaration of his identity demonstrates change from that mindset,” said Ryan Saadeh, president of the Gender and Sexuality Alliance club at WJ.

Rep. Brian Sims of Philadelphia-D and Rep. Mike Fleck of Huntingdon-R,  both of whom are currently serving in the state House of Representatives, have also recently made their homosexuality public.

“The more that people learn about, and respect, and experience diversity, I think the better off we are as a society,” Ferlo said.

Saadeh, along with many others, hope that in the future sexuality won’t be seen as a controversial topic in politics.

“Ferlo’s statement definitely expresses a self-acceptance that will likely normalize LGBT leaders. By not making a huge deal of his sexuality, he will likely still perceived as ‘ordinary’ as a Senator can be, just another guy who happens to be gay,” Saadeh said.