By Andrew Davis
Oct 30 (Openly) - U.S. Representative Mike Johnson was elected last week by his fellow Republicans to serve as speaker of the House of Representatives, after three weeks of turmoil and several failed candidates.
An evangelical Christian who describes himself as a life-long conservative, Johnson, 51, opposes abortion rights and is perhaps best known for his defense of former President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Here is a look at what his election might mean for LGBTQ+ Americans:
What has Johnson said about LGBTQ+ rights?
Prior to Congress, Johnson was a lawyer who mainly worked on religious freedom issues, successfully defending Louisiana's same-sex marriage ban in 2004.
While working as an attorney for the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) in the early 2000s, a conservative legal advocacy job, Johnson wrote about issues such as same-sex marriage for a newspaper in his hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana.
In one of the columns, dated Sept. 12, 2004, he describes gay relationships as "inherently unnatural", referring to the dangers of a "homosexual 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," reads one clipping of the newspaper, cited in a CNN report.
Asked last week about the editorials during a television interview, Johnson said: "I don't even remember some of them."
He added that he genuinely loves all people "regardless of their lifestyle choices" and that he respects the rule of law, CNN reported.
What is his congressional record on LGBTQ+ issues?
Johnson opposes same-sex marriage and introduced a bill in 2022 that would have banned schools from promoting or discussing sexuality or gender identity.
His national "Don't Say LGBTQ+" bill, formally called the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act of 2022, sought to expand laws in some U.S. states that prohibit the teaching of LGBTQ+ topics in school classrooms.
The bill stalled in the House committees on oversight and reform, and education and labor, according to The Bay Area Reporter.
He also led a Congressional hearing on the effects of gender-affirming healthcare among transgender youth, describing practices such as hormone therapy as "adults inflicting harm on helpless children to affirm their world view."
What do LGBTQ+ advocates say about his election?
The Republican Party is largely against LGBTQ+ rights, and gay and trans rights campaigners said Johnson's selection indicated that the party would continue to block steps towards greater equality.
Kelley Robinson, president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) advocacy group, called Johnson "the most anti-equality Speaker in U.S. history."
"This is a choice that will be a stain on the record of everyone who voted for him," Robinson said in a statement.
Brian C. Johnson, CEO of the Equality Illinois LGBTQ+ advocacy group, echoed her comments.
"House Republicans elevated one of their most virulent anti-equality members to the highest seat in the US House of Representatives," he told Openly.
University of Oregon Professor Alison Gash said opportunities for progress on LGBTQ+ rights among the Republican Party were unlikely, regardless of the choice of speaker.
"Republican governors have already established that opposing queer and trans rights - especially for youth - will be a core element of the Republican platform so long as it holds electoral promise," she said.
Related stories:
Why has Pride caused an uproar in the United States?
Bills restricting transgender rights in the US
LGBTQ+ 'rainbow wave' brings U.S. midterms boost but battles ahead
Openly is an initiative of the Thomson Reuters Foundation dedicated to impartial coverage of LGBT+ issues from around the world.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
