(The Center Square) – U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles said a controversial post that appeared on his social media feed was not of his making.
The post said, “Homosexuality has no place in America, Happy Nuclear Family Month,” and was posted by a staff member, the Tennessee Republican said.
“Earlier today while working on the farm, my phone began going crazy because of a post made by a member of my comms team,” Ogles said in another social media post. “The post was stupid, hurtful and a complete distraction from my America First focus. The employee has been reprimanded.”
The post was criticized by some of Ogles’ Republican colleagues.
“Homosexuality exists. In America. In fact Andy, you have family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and constituents who are gay and lesbian,” said Rep. Mike Lawler, R-N.Y. “It doesn’t make them less than or somehow unworthy of being an American. What an absolutely idiotic statement to make.”
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., told NBC News the post was “reprehensible.”
“He retracted it,” Scalise said. “He himself said he didn’t post it, and that he’s taking action to reprimand people who did, so it should never have (been) put up.”
Rep. Frank Pallone, R-N.J., responded by saying, “Hate has no place in America.”
“Extremists in the Republican Party have gone completely off the rails,” Pallone said on social media. “While I’m glad the backlash against Rep. Ogles has been swift, the culture of bigotry that made his tweet possible must be rooted out at its source.”
Second-term Republican Gov. Bill Lee declared June as Nuclear Family Month in Tennessee, which is seen by some as a response to Pride Month. Ogles’ challenger for his 5th Congressional District seat, former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher, praised Lee’s decision to name June as Nuclear Family Month.
“The best way to raise strong, healthy children is with a mom and a dad in the home,” Hatcher said in a post. “That is God’s design and the foundation of a thriving society.”
