Baptist Pastor and Mayor F.L. “Bubba” Copeland found himself at the center of a storm, necessitating a public apology to his congregation after being exposed for his clandestine activities as a cross-dresser online.
“I apologize for any embarrassment caused by my private personal life that has come publicly,” Copeland solemnly stated, addressing his congregation and the wider church community through a video message. “Congregation, church…” a shaken up Bubba Copeland said standing in the pulpit. “”I have been an object of an internet attack.”
“An article that was written about my capacity as the mayor, capacity as the pastor. The article is about who, or what I am. Yes, I have taken pictures of my wife in the privacy of our home in an attempt of humor because I know I’m not a handsome man nor a beautiful woman either.
I apologize for any embarrassment caused by my private personal life that has come publicly. This will not cause my life to change. This will not waver my devotion to my family, to serving my city, and serving my church…” He added that he had nothing to be ashamed of.
Yet, here’s the actual rundown of what happened. F.L. “Bubba” Copeland, a man of dual responsibilities, has served as both the Mayor of Smiths Station and the lead pastor at the First Baptist Church in nearby Phenix City.
According to 1819 News, Copeland, respected by local officials and having earned face time with then-President Donald Trump during a disaster relief effort, appeared to be a man deeply invested in his community and his faith.
However, beneath this facade of public service and religious devotion, Copeland was leading a double life. Unbeknownst to his congregation and the citizens he served, he was actively participating in online forums as a transgender woman, going by the pseudonym Brittini Blaire Summerlin.
His online persona was the direct opposite of his public image, with regular postings of himself in various states of undress, clad in women’s lingerie, and engaging in explicit discussions about transgender issues and hormone replacement therapy.
