Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally apologizes for Instagram feedback : NPR

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally communicate forward of Gov. Bill Lee’s State of the State Address. Monday, Feb. 06, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.

Blaise Gainey/WPLN

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Blaise Gainey/WPLN

Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton and Lt. Gov. Randy McNally communicate forward of Gov. Bill Lee’s State of the State Address. Monday, Feb. 06, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn.

Blaise Gainey/WPLN

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Republican Lt. Gov. Randy McNally has confirmed that for “a short time” he has been liking and leaving feedback on social media images of an overtly homosexual Tennessee man who usually poses practically bare.

McNally, who can also be a member of the state Senate and serves as its head, has left quite a few feedback on Franklyn McClur’s Instagram images with phrases comparable to “like it!” and coronary heart and flame emojis. One remark reads, “Finn, you may flip a wet day into rainbows and sunshine.”

In an interview Thursday night time with News Channel 5 in Nashville, McNally apologized saying, “I’m actually, actually sorry if I’ve embarrassed my household, embarrassed my pals, embarrassed any of the members of the legislature with the posts.”

Serving within the legislature since 1978, McNally is being known as out after years of supporting payments that prohibit the rights of LGBTQ individuals within the state.

Thursday, the 79-year-old was questioned by reporters on the state Capitol for his social media exercise. He confirmed his actions and defended them saying “I’m not anti-gay.”

McNally has spoken out towards homosexual marriage prior to now and stated Thursday that he nonetheless “form of” feels that means, “But I nonetheless have [gay] pals which can be married.” He additionally pointed on the market was a time he spoke towards laws that will have prevented homosexual {couples} from adopting.

In response to McNally’s feedback, McClur spoke with the web site the Tennessee Holler and stated he discovered it hypocritical that the lieutenant governor would really like his posts however help payments that hurt the LGBTQ group.

Some have discovered his apology on News Channel 5 complicated after McNally confirmed and stood by his posts Thursday in entrance of the press. Also, in an announcement, his press secretary stated the lieutenant governor “enjoys interacting with constituents and Tennesseans of all religions, backgrounds and orientations on social media. He has no intention of stopping.”

McNally’s voting document

This yr, the lieutenant governor was recovering from a coronary heart process when the state Senate voted to cross payments eliminating gender-affirming care for transgender individuals below 18 and banning drag performances in public locations the place kids might even see them. (That legislation is the primary of its type within the nation and comes with the potential for jail time.)

Though in his absence he did not vote for the payments, McNally has stated he believes “sexual reassignment” surgical procedure must be delayed till maturity, even when dad and mom give the OK.

Two years in a row, McNally voted to restrict sports activities participation on the idea of intercourse assigned at beginning. He voted for an additional invoice that enables people to refuse to share bogs and locker rooms with transgender individuals.

Even although he’s the lieutenant governor, McNally could also be a comparatively unknown identify, even in Tennessee. Instead of being elected by voters, he is elected by the legislature to the lieutenant governor publish. Still, if Gov. Bill Lee have been unable to serve his in his publish for any cause, McNally would assume the workplace of governor.

Acacia Squires, NPR’s States Team editor, contributed to this story.