Mike Johnson’s Complete (and Horrific) Track Record on LGBTQ Issues
America's House Speaker has spent more than two decades advocating for anti-LGBTQ policies and spewing homophobic and transphobic rhetoric.
Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is second in line to the President of the United States and one of the most powerful politicians in the U.S. He has said his faith informs everything he does. Here’s a comprehensive track record of Johnson’s comments and actions related to the LGBTQ community.
Legal Career
2002
Johnson starts working as an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian legal juggernaut co-founded in 1994 by Alan Sears, the co-author of “The Homosexual Agenda: Exposing the Principal Threat to Religious Freedom Today.” ADF is a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated anti-LGBTQ hate group that has litigated and lobbied against marriage equality and anti-LGBTQ discrimination laws, and in favor of conversion therapy.
2003
While working at ADF, Johnson and his team give legal advice to Exodus International, a Christian organization founded in 1976 with the explicit aim of turning gay people straight through conversion therapy. Their methods include prayer, religious counseling, chastity, gender conformity training, participation in support groups, “deliverance sessions” through spiritual warfare and prayer, and aversion therapy techniques. In 2013, Exodus shuts down and apologizes to the gay community, stating that they have “been imprisoned [by] a worldview that’s neither honoring toward our fellow human beings, nor biblical.”
Feb. 2003
In an amicus brief, Johnson supports the criminalization of gay sex in Lawrence v Texas.
Johnson says authorities have “legitimate grounds to proscribe same-sex deviate intercourse,” and that “In closing these bedroom doors … they have opened a Pandora’s box.”
He goes on to write that “Homosexuals do not meet the criteria for a suspect class under the equal protection clause because they are neither disadvantaged nor identified on the basis of immutable characteristics, as all are capable of changing their abnormal lifestyles.”
July, 2003
Johnson publishes an op-ed in one of Louisiana’s oldest newspapers, where he admonishes the Supreme Court for overturning Lawrence v. Texas.
He argues that states have a right to control the sexual activity of consenting adults if they are the same biological sex.
July, 2004
In another 2004 column, Johnson writes: "Experts project that homosexual marriage is the dark harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy that could doom even the strongest republic.”
2004-2012
Johnson sits on the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. The Southern Baptist Church has issued policy statements that God's plan for marriage and sexual intimacy is a lifetime relationship of one man and one woman. They reject homosexuality and say that women are not eligible to serve as pastors. Since 1992, the national convention has "disfellowshipped" various churches that support LGBTQ inclusion.
Sept. 2004
Johnson writes another op-ed in the Shreveport Times where he defends Louisiana’s decision to ban same-sex marriage, and suggests it could lead to people marrying their cats and dogs or give pedophiles the right to marry children. He adds that allowing same-sex marriage could be the downfall of the democratic system.
“Homosexual relationships are inherently unnatural and, the studies clearly show, are ultimately harmful and costly for everyone … Society cannot give its stamp of approval to such a dangerous lifestyle. If we change marriage for this tiny, modern minority, we will have to do it for every deviant group. Polygamists, polyamorists, pedophiles, and others will be next in line to claim equal protection. They already are. There will be no legal basis to deny a bisexual the right to marry a partner of each sex, or a person to marry his pet.”
April, 2005
On Day of Silence, a nationwide campaign which combats anti-gay bias in schools across the U.S., Johnson says, in regard to the event, that “you can call it sinful or destructive— [but] ultimately it’s both.”
Johnson and ADF create a counterprotest called “Day of Truth,” where they distribute T-shirts emblazoned with "The Truth Cannot be Silenced" and express their refusal to support what they deem "detrimental personal and social behavior," in reference to homosexuality.
The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network criticize the counterprotest. In response, Johnson says, "No one is for bullying and harassment. But that's cloaking their real message -- that homosexuality is good for society."
July, 2005
In another editorial titled “Sexual Orientation Move Should be Opposed,” Johnson argues that the city of Shreveport, LA, should not adopt policies that would include sexual orientation and gender identity under the city's employment nondiscrimination policies.
He writes, “Your race, creed, and sex are what you are, while homosexuality and cross-dressing are things you do … This is a free country, but we don’t give special protections for every person’s bizarre choices.”
2007
Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois, tells a student she can’t wear a shirt that says "BE HAPPY, NOT GAY" after a Day of Silence supporting gay rights. The school allows her to wear a shirt opposing homosexuality but requires a less “derogatory” message, like "Be happy, be straight."
ADF lawyers argue this violated the student’s free-speech rights, but a federal judge rules the school can restrict the message to promote tolerance. Johnson, as an attorney for ADF, criticizes the decision as illogical: “Certainly the First Amendment has got to protect negative statements as well.”
2008
Johnson tells a radio host that, “Some credit the fall of Rome to not only the deprivation of the society and the loss of morals, but also to the rampant homosexual behavior that was condoned by the society.”
Feb., 2009
In an Exodus International article titled “Question Homosexuality,” Johnson defends the Day of Truth counter protests: "Day of Truth students have the same constitutional right to express their viewpoint as any other student … Unfortunately, despite using buzzwords like "tolerance" and "diversity," many schools have censored students who want to “peacefully express a Christian viewpoint.”
July, 2013
Johnson represents Louisiana in a case where a same-sex couple who legally married in California sought to have their marriage recognized by the state of Louisiana and the ability for one plaintiff to legally adopt the biological son of her partner. The couple ultimately won the case in 2015.
July, 2015
Johnson defends Louisiana’s ban on allowing same-sex couples to jointly file state income taxes and to register two parents on birth certificates.
Sept., 2016
Johnson gives a statement to the Louisiana Baptist Message, a Southern Baptist newspaper, on his faith and its effect on his politics: “I’ve been out on the front lines of the ‘culture war’ defending religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and biblical values, including the defense of traditional marriage, and other ideals like these when they’ve been under assault.”
Representative Mike Johnson
Jan., 2017
Johnson is sworn into office as a member of Congress.
July, 2017
In an operating agreement for Onward Christian Counseling Services LLC signed and notarized by Mike Johnson, he and his wife Kelly say:
“We believe, and the Bible teaches, that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God.”
2018
Johnson becomes an adjunct professor at Liberty University, the world’s largest evangelical college, which asks students to sign an honor code known as “The Liberty Way” that prohibits any expression of LGBTQ identity. Examples of behavior that violate the honor code include:
Romantic displays of affection with a member of the same sex (e.g., hand-holding, kissing, dating, etc.),
Actions confirming the denial of biological birth sex (e.g., asking to be referred to by pronouns inconsistent with one’s birth sex, using restrooms and changing facilities reserved for persons other than one’s birth sex, etc.)
Sept., 2022
Johnson and 32 other Republican members of Congress introduce the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act—viewed by many as a national “Don’t Say Gay” bill.
Speaking on his podcast, Johnson tells his wife, “[The bill] will make it unlawful to use even one penny of federal funds to develop, implement, facilitate or be a purveyor of any of these sexually oriented programs.”
March, 2023
Johnson receives the True Blue award from Family Research Council (FRC)—a Southern Poverty Law Center-designated anti-LGBTQ hate group—for his "100% Voting Record on FRC Action's 2022 Scorecard.” FRC President Tony Perkins says Johnson "courageously stood strong against dangerous, freedom-eroding laws like the Equality Act and (Dis)Respect for Marriage Act.”
May, 2023
Johnson says on his podcast that shopping at Target, which stocks Pride merchandise, is not “honoring God” and that they would not want to be at Target when “rapture happens.”
He adds that, “The foundations of our country … are crumbling … And it’s on vivid display now every week. And the big thing this week … is the hubbub over Target stores and how they’ve just gone apparently all in on this woke agenda.”
Later in the podcast, Johnson says that anyone who is worried about “the health, the mental stability, the well-being of children” would be offended by the Pride displays at Target, falsely claiming that Target partnered with Satanic companies.
He adds that this is all a sign of how “darkness has encroached” on America. He cites statistics about the prevalence of teen suicide ideation and blames “the LGBTQ+-whatever agenda.”
The following month, Target faces significant backlash and reported employee harassment, including bomb threats because of their Pride-themed merchandise.
June 2023
Again on his podcast, Johnson says: “Thursday was June 1st, marked the beginning of Pride Month in the U.S. You know, and that's the LGBTQ agenda. Why is there an entire month dedicated to normalize and legalize the ideology and behavior of such a small minority while stigmatizing and criminalizing those who disagree? … Why are groups who ridicule biblical morality elevated by popular culture and those who support it are denigrated?”
Johnson and Betsy DeVos discussing Title IX in relation to women's sports. Photo: Office of Speaker Mike Johnson - X.com
July 2023
At a July 2023 hearing on transgender youth, Johnson speaks out against allowing children to receive gender-affirming care, saying: "Our American legal system recognizes the important public interest in protecting children from abuse and physical harm.” He also co-sponsors legislation that would make it a felony to provide opposite-sex hormones or gender-affirming surgeries to minors.
House Speaker Mike Johnson
Oct., 2023
In an interview with Jim Garlow, a former pastor who was a member of Trump’s faith advisory board, Johnson says, “faith in our institutions is the lowest it’s ever been” and noted that church attendance had “dropped below 50%.”
Johnson cites statistics about high school students’ sexual orientation, saying that one-quarter of high school students in 2021 identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning or other. “We’re losing the country,” Johnson concludes.
Johnson speaks to reporters about his “well established record” on transgender issues.
Nov., 2024
Taking direct aim at Sarah McBride, the first elected openly transgender member of Congress, Johnson bars transgender people from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity. He states that, “For anybody who doesn’t know my well-established record on this issue let me be unequivocally clear: A man is a man and a woman is a woman, and a man cannot become a woman.”
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To think this man is second in line to the presidency is horrifying. ( Mind you…look who precedes him) His arrogance, ignorance and certainty are gobsmacking. Well done Uncloseted for such a revealing report!
Queen Gertrude in William Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, Scene II: "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."