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LGBT community reacts to First Lady Lori Otter's controversial Facebook post

Posted at 10:34 PM, Mar 15, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-16 00:34:27-04

The LGBT community is reacting to a controversial social media post on the private Facebook page of Idaho's first lady.

It was brought to our attention by an upset Six On Your Side viewer.

The Facebook post is a meme that makes fun of Caitlyn Jenner's gender transition, and it was shared by Lori Otter to her Facebook friends.

The post reads: "What can happen when you eat Wheaties for 38 years."

On one side, it shows a picture of triumphant Olympic decathlete Bruce Jenner. On the other side, a picture of Caitlyn Jenner next to the caption, "Includes no nuts."

Critics were quick to chastize the first lady.

"When your governor and first lady don't use words in supportive and kind, loving ways to the transgender students in Idaho, it really sends a message that they don't matter," says civil rights activist Tyler Carson.

Six On Your Side contacted the first lady by email for comment on why she shared the post.

She offered this one word reply: "Nope."

Leo Morales with the Idaho ACLU says his agency supports the first lady's right to free speech.

"That freedom to post or to "like" is extremely important, but it's also very important to understand that those comments also carry a very hurtful tone towards others."

In a state where it is legal to fire someone or kick them out of housing just because they are gay or transgender, Carson says our leaders need to do better to make Idaho a state where everyone matters.

Whether or not the first lady approved of the posting is left up to interpretation.

It was removed within an hour of our inquiry.