Rep. Andy Ogles, R-Tenn., deleted a homophobic comment he posted from his official congressional X account and blamed a staffer for posting it following bipartisan backlash. The now-deleted post, which came at the beginning of Pride Month, read: "Homosexuality has no place in America. Happy Nuclear Family Month."
Ogles later said on X that "a member of my comms team" sent the post. "The post was stupid, hurtful and a complete distraction from my America First focus. The employee has been reprimanded," he added.
What the Left Is Saying
Democrats condemned Ogles' post as discriminatory and out of step with American values. Rep. Katherine Clark, D-Mass., wrote in a post that "bigots like Andy Ogles have no place in America."
Rep. Shri Thanedar, D-Mich., also weighed in on X, calling it a "horrific and disgusting thing to say."
"The LGBTQI+ community makes America great, unlike bigots like you," Thanedar said in his post.
Progressive groups pointed to Ogles' history of inflammatory remarks. Earlier this year, Ogles declared that "Muslims don't belong in American society," which also prompted bipartisan criticism at the time.
What the Right Is Saying
Fellow Republican Rep. Mike Lawler of New York was among those who publicly condemned Ogles over the post, calling it "idiotic."
"Homosexuality exists. In America. In fact Andy, you have family, friends, neighbors, colleagues and constituents who are gay and lesbian," Lawler wrote on X. "It doesn't make them less than or somehow unworthy of being an American. What an absolutely idiotic statement to make."
Lawler told NBC News that he also sent Ogles some "choice words" via text message.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, was asked by TMZ whether he agreed with the post. "For all of recorded history, homosexuals have been part of humanity," Cruz said. "I'm quite libertarian by nature. I think the behavior of consenting adults is their business."
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Ogles' post.
What the Numbers Show
Polling data shows shifting attitudes among Republicans on same-sex marriage recognition. According to Gallup surveys, 55% of Republicans said marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized in 2021. By 2026, that number had dropped to 37% of Republicans, representing a notable decline in Republican support for same-sex marriage over five years.
The polling suggests Ogles' statement aligns with a segment of the Republican base but may not reflect broader party sentiment on the issue.
The Bottom Line
Ogles has faced criticism before for inflammatory remarks targeting religious and ethnic groups. His office's characterization of the post as a staffer error rather than intentional messaging raises questions about communications protocols in congressional offices.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions within the Republican Party over social issues, with members like Lawler and Cruz publicly distancing themselves from Ogles' language while others have remained silent. House Speaker Johnson's lack of response suggests the matter may not rise to a level requiring formal party discipline.