Lt. gov. ‘hearts’ man’s racy photos after backing anti-LGBTQ bills
Republican Randy McNally, the No. 2 elected official in Tennessee, is being accused of hypocrisy by critics
Tennessee Lt. Gov. Randy McNally (R) acknowledged Thursday that he frequently commented on racy and shirtless photos of a man on Instagram, sparking backlash from critics and LGBTQ advocates at a time when the state’s No. 2 elected official has supported bills targeting the LGBTQ community.
McNally, 79, repeatedly left supportive statements and emoji, some of them arguably flirtatious, on provocative and half-nude photos posted by Franklin McClure, 20, who goes by Franklyn Superstar on Instagram, according to the Tennessee Holler. That outlet, which describes itself as “an audience-supported progressive news site,” reported the story Wednesday.
Screenshots of McClure’s Instagram posts show that McNally left heart and fire emoji from the lawmaker’s verified Instagram account in response to a close-up photo of the man’s backside that appears to show him only wearing briefs. He also addressed McClure by his nickname: “Finn, you can turn a rainy day into rainbows and sunshine!” In another post where McClure was dancing outside in his underwear, the lieutenant governor responded, “Love it,” with more heart emoji. Similar comments were left by the Republican in a separate photo showing McClure with his shorts slightly pulled down: “Super look Finn.”
Critics accused McNally of hypocrisy this week after Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee (R) recently signed bills into law that bar transgender children from receiving gender-affirming care and outlaw drag performances in most public spaces. The measures are among more than two dozen bills proposed by Republican lawmakers in the state targeting LGBTQ people and culture.
Neither McNally nor McClure immediately responded to requests for comment Friday morning. McNally apologized Thursday in an interview with Nashville-based WTVF, but he insisted that his intentions behind the Instagram comments have been misconstrued.
“I’m really, really sorry if I’ve embarrassed my family, embarrassed my friends, embarrassed any of the members of the legislature with the posts,” McNally, who is also speaker of the state Senate, told the TV station. “It was not my intent to [embarrass them] and not my intent to hurt them.”
McNally acknowledged to WTVF that while it was “probably not” appropriate to like some of McClure’s posts, including how the man describes himself as a “PROSTITUTE,” he had not met McClure. McNally, who said he wanted to “encourage” McClure through engagement on his photos, was also asked why he liked McClure’s bio that included a part about how he “gets free weed” for giving oral sex.
“Yeah, I don’t know,” he told WTVF. “A lot of times on some people’s posts you see the name and you see what they’ve written, and you just press the button that says like.”
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