North Dakota Pol Defends “Sexting”

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota Republican lawmaker who has voted against extending legal protections to gays and lesbians is defending his decision to send a graphic photo of himself to another user of a gay dating website.

Representative Randy Boehning of Fargo told The Forum newspaper that he is gay and confirmed that he sent an unsolicited photo of a his penis to a man.

Boehning says he's relieved to come out as gay because he no longer worries about being outed.

But Boehning also told the newspaper he thought his exchange with the man was being made public in retaliation for his vote against the bill that would have protected gays and lesbians from discrimination.

The 52-year-old contractor, who is single, has served in the North Dakota Legislature since 2003.