Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally (R) apologized to his family, friends and colleagues Monday after allegations of hypocrisy for comments on Instagram posts suggestive of gay men.
McNally has left a heart and fire emoji, along with the occasional comment like “Super look Finn,” under a photo of Franklyn “Finn” McClur, the aspiring player appearing in only tight underwear, as first reported by the progressive news site The Tennessee Holler.
The politician’s social media activity has drawn criticism for his history of supporting anti-LGBTQ legislation.
In a recent interview with WTVF, a local news station, McNally said he has gotten to know members of the LGBTQ community — some of whom are part of his family — and tries to be more supportive. Asked for evidence of support, McNally pointed to a 2020 bill that would allow religious adoption agencies to discriminate against gay couples. The lieutenant governor, who is also speaker for the state Senate, voted “present and abstention” on the legislation, which eventually passed.
This year, he voted for a ban on gender treatment for Tennessee minors, who also passed.
Twenty-year-old McClur, who grew up in Knoxville, told The Tennessee Holler that he and McNally first became Facebook friends a few years ago, and the lieutenant governor began using his verified government account on Instagram to leave comments. .
At first, McNally’s spokeswoman dismissed questions about her behavior, saying she often uses social media to connect with constituents.
“Trying to obscure something creepy or inappropriate about a great-grandfather who uses social media says more about the mind of a left-wing operative making the implication of it about Randy McNally,” said the spokesman.
But in a WTVF interview, McNally changed his tune.
“I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed my family, embarrassed my friends, embarrassed the legislators with their positions,” he said.
Asked to explain why he wrote, “Finn, you can turn a rainy day into rainbows and sunshine,” under a close-up photo of McClur’s butt in his underwear, McNally said, “It’s, you know, me, you know, trying to encourage people with posts and try to, you know, help if I can.
McNally added that he was “basically trying to support him.”
He told WTVF that he had never met McClur, which McClur also told The Tennessee Holler.
“I just thought he was older and out of touch,” McClur told the outlet. “I always take it as a compliment. I don’t like him or think he’s a bad person, he’s the only person who constantly lifts me up and makes me feel good.