Tennessee Senator Janice Bowling (R-Tullahoma) is receiving backlash after a video was posted to social media, showing her speaking at a meeting on subjects of diversity, the LGBTQ community and reflecting on the passing of Manchester Mayor Lonnie Norman calling him by the wrong name by saying it was Eugene London. Bowling spoke at Norman’s funeral.
She made comments on the possibility of a diversity council being created in Tullahoma, “When I heard there was being considered a diversity council, I laughed. This is a joke right, what’s the punchline?” said Bowling.
The senator then stated that she wasn’t aware Tullahoma had elected its first woman of color for office.
“I said who was it? I didn’t consider Rupa a woman of color, I considered her Rupa,” said Bowling. She was referring to Alderman Rupa Blackwell
Bowling could also be heard making comments surrounding the LGBTQ community, recounting a conversation she had with “a lesbian” who she claims came into her office asking the senator to accept her sexuality, “I said listen, I didn’t walk into a room and say ‘hello I’m Janice Bowling, I’m heterosexual and you’ve got to like it or love it’.”
So far Bowling has not responded to media requests over her statements.
Information from WVLT