A scantily clad younger man walks in during Arizona Democrat Matt Heinz’s Zoom call

A half-naked man with a Speedo appeared in the background of a Zoom call from an Arizona consultant during a Pima County board of directors meeting Tuesday.

Openly Gay County Supervisor Dr. Matt Heinz, 45, who previously served in the Obama administration, attended the meeting from a cruise ship in the Caribbean.

The 9:00 a.m. meeting had been two hours before Heinz’s unidentified 24-year-old traveling companion walked in to the shot. The man wears a black vest and a black speedo.

The man begins to lift his shirt, freezes, and looks at the computer, apparently not immediately realizing that Heinz is in a meeting. The doctor quickly turned off his camera at this point.

None of Heinz’s colleagues mentioned the cameo appearance. The board is scheduled to meet again on January 24.

The doctor later explained that the man in the video was his “travelling companion” and said the couple was neither an object nor a sex worker. He compared the moment to other viral moments where Zoom calls are interrupted by children and pets.

County Supervisor Dr. Matt Heinz, who previously served in the Obama administration, attended a Pima County Board meeting while away from a cruise ship in the Caribbean

It had been two hours since the 9:00 a.m. meeting when openly gay Heinz’s unidentified 24-year-old traveling companion slipped into the picture

After the clip went viral, Heinz addressed the awkward moment in an interview with The Advocate.

The Democrat said he was “stunned” at how much attention the clip had garnered. Heinz explained that he’s on a 10-day Ritz-Carlton cruise with a “travel companion, a friend.”

Heinz said his friend, who is more than 20 years his junior, was outside on the balcony of their room and came back for a shirt when the moment was captured.

The good doctor did not identify the companion, only saying, “He is 24. He is clearly an adult, and we are good friends who travel well together.”

He added: “We’re not dating. We are not friends. we are not engaged We are not married.’

Heinz later summed it up: “Leave my friend alone. He was in a bathing suit. He accidentally walked into the frame for less than three seconds, wasn’t nude, is clearly an adult and not a sex worker – not that there’s anything wrong with that.

Heinz pictured with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden

Matt Heinz took to Twitter to defend the looks of his 24-year-old travel companion

Discussing why he was called to the meeting, Heinz said that as a single man he works a lot during the holidays so his colleagues who have families can spend time at home.

Heinz also mentioned that he has three full-time jobs and, in addition to his medical and political work, the Michigan native has a small business. On Twitter, Heinz also mentions that he spends a lot of time taking care of his aging father.

His cruise ends on Saturday, at which point he is scheduled to fly home via Florida. At the time of the interview, Heinz was at the Panama Canal.

Heinz was invited to the White House for the signing of the Respect for Marriage Act in December 2022

Heinz is an attending physician at Tucson Medical Center, a role he has held since 2003. In 2008, Heinz made history by becoming the first openly gay member of the Arizona House of Representatives

Heinz is an attending physician at Tucson Medical Center, a role he has held since 2003. In 2008, Heinz made history by becoming the first openly gay member of the Arizona House of Representatives. He served two terms in the House.

According to his official website, veteran affairs, seniors, and healthcare in general are the issues that are close to Heinz’s heart.

Between 2013 and 2015, Heinz served in the Obama administration as Director of Provider Outreach in the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs.

In 2021, Heinz became the Pima County Supervisor. During his first year in office, he was an outspoken advocate for mask mandates in the county.

According to posts on his Instagram page, Heinz was present at Biden’s signing of the Respect for Marriage Act in December 2022. He has made several unsuccessful attempts to earn the Democratic nomination for congressional elections in various districts.