Legislator mocks trans Biden nominee on Facebook, apologizes

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Jan. 23, 2021
Updated: Jan. 23, 2021 12:40 p.m.



FILE - In this April 30, 2018 file photo, Pennsylvania state Rep. Jeff Pyle, R-Armstrong, speaks at an annual gun rights rally in the state Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg, Pa. Pyle has issued a vague apology, Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021, after sharing an image on Facebook mocking the appearance of Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania’s recently departed health secretary. Levine is a transgender woman newly nominated to serve in the Biden administration.Marc Levy/AP


HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania legislator shared on Facebook an image mocking the appearance of the state’s recently departed health secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, a transgender woman who has been nominated to serve in the Biden administration, and then offered a general apology Saturday.

State Rep. Jeff Pyle, a Republican from Armstrong and Indiana counties in western Pennsylvania, said on Facebook that he “had no idea" the post mocking Levine “would be ... received as poorly as it was" but that “tens of thousands of heated emails assured me it was."

“I owe an apology and I offer it humbly," Pyle said, not specifically apologizing to Levine or other transgender people, but later repeating an apology “to all affected."

Levine has not commented. The state health department did not immediately respond to an email seeking a reaction to Pyle's initial post or his apology.

Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/article/Legislator-mocks-trans-Biden-nominee-on-Facebook-15892796.php

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[RKP5637]

1. F'en stupid bullying trans-phobic rep. Grow up!!!!! Get off the 7th grade playground. n/t

[Clash City Rocker]

2. "I had no idea my bigotry would be unpopular. Most of my Republican friends seem to like it."

[marble falls]

3. That was no apology, it was a regret: "had no idea" it "would be ... received as poorly as it was."

[UpInArms]

4. I despise his

Jeezular sheen

[Nitram]

5. When these bigots have an audience of right wing nut jobs, they can't help themselves. They say what

they really think because they know the audience will eat it up and applaud them. Unfortunately for them, videos are taken and the rest of the world sees their bigotry for what it is.

[msongs]

6. mission accomplished followed by fake apology. expect more of this sort of thing nt

[rickyhall]

7. Typical repug apology

[Gilbert Moore]

8. He looks like

Pee Wee Gosar. All that whiteness and the Nazi swastikas in the photo make me lust for bratwurst.

[DeminPennswoods]

9. Sadly, his views aren't unique here

in western Pennsylvania. Levine, to her credit, takes it all in stride.

[DLevine]

10. I'm a Pennsylvanian. She's awesome.

Fuck Pyle.

[Ford_Prefect]

11. This is standard fare for bullies and RW assholes: Make a calculated and ugly insult and later

offer a false apology, while whining about it being unjustly demanded. They have no shame.

It is not about the facts or even about a legitimate disagreement over policy. It is about owning and putting down anyone they oppose as meat thrown to their rabid base.

I for one am tired of turning the other cheek. I think we need to use the five answers Lucy advocates in persuading Linus about her point of view. I think we need a national program which focuses on hitting assholes like him hard where it hurts, along the lines of The Lincoln Project. DNC take note!

[The Jungle 1]

12. Repukes have always hated freedom for all.

They only want freedom for white Europeans.

[onetexan]

13. This Gomer Pyle is a disgusting POS. BUT it's no surprise given that's what the GOP condones. The

problem is systemic. The bigot needs to resign.

[dogknob]

14. Mission Accomplished! The message was disseminated. Screw his "apology"

Y'know... screw this Republican tactic of using the media to disseminate an offensive message, then backtracking with a non-apology. The apology is worthless; they accomplished their mission in getting their message out there. Shit they probably write out their "apology" before they spew their hate, then just copy/paste when the expected outrage comes.

[BumRushDaShow]

15. These douchebags have done this continually

and most publicly due to Dr. Levine's many public appearances to update residents on the COVID-19 pandemic status here in PA.

These little punk GOP legislature hicks haven't moved beyond their giggling junior high school antics.

Back this past July, she finally decided to address the bullshit at the beginning of her weekly presser -