Rep. Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.) deleted a tweet declaring that homosexuality has no place in America, then blamed a member of his communications staff for posting it without his knowledge. The message, which appeared on his X account during Pride Month as part of a broader GOP "Nuclear Family Month" push, drew swift condemnation from both Democrats and Republicans.

The Statement and Immediate Backlash

Ogles' original post began with the phrase "Homosexuality has no place in America" before adding "Happy Nuclear Family Month." The message triggered rare bipartisan criticism. Former Rep. George Santos, who is gay, responded with personal anguish, noting that he had considered Ogles a friend and expressing shock at being told there was no place for him in the country based on who he loves. Senator Ted Cruz, while not directly addressing Ogles by name, defended gay Americans, stating that homosexuals have been part of humanity throughout recorded history and that consenting adults' behavior should be their own business. Rep. Mike Lawler of New York was blunter, calling the post "absolutely idiotic" and vowing to confront Ogles in person.

The Explanation

Within hours, Ogles removed the tweet and posted an explanation claiming he had not written the offensive message. According to Ogles, while he was working on his farm, a member of his communications team posted to his account without authorization. He characterized the post as "stupid, hurtful and a complete distraction" from his policy focus. The explanation came after the Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative gay political group, also condemned the original statement, calling Ogles' views bigoted and noting that most Americans and Republicans disagree with such views.

A Pattern of Controversy

This incident is not Ogles' first brush with inflammatory rhetoric. In March, he posted that "Muslims don't belong in American society. Pluralism is a lie," demonstrating a pattern of exclusionary statements. The June tweet deletion and staff-blame explanation did little to quiet the backlash, with critics questioning why such a message would be posted in the first place if Ogles genuinely opposed it.

Source: Queerty

Cover photo: Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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GOP Rep. Ogles Deletes Homophobic Tweet, Blames Staff