A Republican lawmaker is apologizing for a social media post on his X account that attempted to provoke the LGBTQ community by declaring that “homosexuality has no place in America” during Pride Month.
The statement, posted on the official X account of U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), echoes the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric employed by some of the world’s most theocratic or authoritarian regimes, including Iran, Ghana, Uganda, and Russia. In these countries, LGBTQ identities and same-sex relationships are often criminalized or heavily stigmatized, with some governments imposing long prison sentences, severe fines, corporal punishment, and even the death penalty.
The post also wished Ogles’ followers a “Happy Nuclear Family Month” and referenced recent events. designation The bill, adopted by Tennessee lawmakers, has been characterized by critics as an attempt to troll the LGBTQ community during Pride Month while promoting “traditional” heterosexual families and conservative social values.
Ogles later deleted the post, blaming his staff, according to the report. newsweek.
“Earlier today while I was working on the farm, my phone started going crazy due to a post from a member of our communications team,” Ogles wrote. “The post was stupid, hurtful, and completely deviated from my America First philosophy. The employee was disciplined.”
The post drew backlash from many viewers, including many Republicans, despite a continuing trend of conservatives becoming increasingly hostile toward same-sex marriage, adoption, and LGBTQ visibility.
“I have the same civil rights as everyone else in this country, and I was saddened by this outrageous statement,” wrote former U.S. Rep. George Santos of New York, who was ousted from Congress over an ethics and fraud scandal.
“Homosexuality exists. In America. The fact is, Andy, there are gays and lesbians in your family, your friends, your neighbors, your colleagues, your constituents,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (RN.Y.). I wrote. “That doesn’t make them any less American or any less American. That’s a completely stupid statement.”
Even Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a known social conservative, pushed back on this sentiment, saying: TMZ“Well, I think homosexuals have been part of the human race since the beginning of time. And, let me tell you, I’m pretty liberal at heart. I think it’s their business to act as consenting adults.”
Rob Smith, a gay conservative influencer, tagged Ogles in one article. post It casts doubt on lawmakers’ explanation of what happened.
“SOlly, @RepOgles “I cannot believe for a second that an ‘officer’ wrote that post,” Smith wrote.Homosexual hatred is zero for Americans. Stop trying to be an elected official, do your job, and be an influencer. ”
Mr. Ogles is a staunch social conservative who became known for inflammatory social media posts such as: One from March In it, he claimed that Muslims “do not belong in American society.”
tennessee resolution declare June’s Nuclear Family Month, signed by Republican Gov. Bill Lee, defines the “nuclear family” as a household consisting of one husband, one wife, and their children (whether biological, adopted, or adopted) and describes that structure as central to society and rooted in traditional values.
The resolution is not legally binding, but primarily serves as a symbolic or “messaging” vehicle to implicitly convey hostility toward the LGBTQ community and disapproval of Pride Month. Other Republican-led states, including Arkansas, Alabama, Indiana and Utah, have followed suit, designating June as a month celebrating “family” and “loyalty,” which critics say reflects disapproval of Pride Month and LGBTQ visibility.
According to reports the hillU.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) defended Ogles as a “good man” and urged members to treat each other with “dignity and respect,” but said Ogles did the right thing by deleting the post.
“Folks, we should love our neighbor as ourselves,” said Johnson, a Southern Baptist. “We should treat everyone with dignity and respect, whether we agree with them or not.”
Source: Metro Weekly – www.metroweekly.com
