Speaker Mike Johnson, known for his affiliations with the conservative Christian movement, had made anti-LGBTQ+ comments just weeks before being voted speaker, adding fuel to the debate over LGBTQ+ rights. Here’s the full story.
Dark and Depraved
Speaking on a call with the World Prayer Network on October 3, Johnson shared his belief that American culture is “so dark and depraved that it almost seems irredeemable.”
Students Identified as Something Other Than Straight
His rationale for this grim assessment was the increasing number of young people identifying as LGBTQ+.
Johnson cited statistics, claiming that “one in four high school students identified as something other than straight.”
The Statistics
However, these statistics seem to be at odds with the CDC’s 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey, which reported that 75.5% of high school students identified as heterosexual.
While 12.2% identified as bisexual, and 3.2% identified as gay or lesbian, the majority still identified as heterosexual.
The Appearance
Johnson’s recent comments were part of an appearance with Pastor Jim Garlow, and he has collaborated with Garlow on broadcasts in the past.
Earlier this year, Johnson and Garlow organized a National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance, where they joined with the anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Family Research Council’s president, Tony Perkins.
Compared LGBTQ+ Identities to Bestiality
Johnson’s wife, Kelly, runs a Christian counseling service that, disturbingly, compared LGBTQ+ identities to bestiality on its website.
Woke Corporations
The couple has been vocal about their views, criticizing what they perceive as “woke corporations” and expressing concerns about “satanic” influences in Disney.
They even criticized the absence of “lesbian toys” in Disney’s Toy Story 4 and praised anti-transgender broadcaster Matt Walsh during Pride Month on their podcast.
Not the First Time
However, Johnson’s history of anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric is extensive.
He has previously claimed that same-sex marriage will lead to “chaos and sexual anarchy,” endangering the democratic system.
Open the Door to Legal Protections
He suggested that legalizing same-sex marriage would open the door to legal protections for “pedophiles” and individuals seeking to marry animals.
Johnson has also said that “homosexual relationships are inherently unnatural… ultimately harmful and costly for everyone.”
Believe in the Bible’s Commands
Despite accusations of promoting hate speech, Johnson claimed that, as a Christian, it is impossible for him to be “hateful.”
In a Fox News interview, he said, “If you truly believe in the Bible’s commands and you seek to follow those, it is impossible to be a hateful person!”
Online Users Expressed Their Views
Several users shared their thoughts on the incident.
One user wrote, “If this is your major concern, leave the government, go work for a church. Leave Americans to their lives, liberty, and pursuit of happiness.”
They Have Too Much Political Power
Another user added, “He’s right, they have too much political power over the libs, businesses have learned their lesson with Bud Light and Target. Normal people don’t want to see it or hear about it.”
Haters, Dividers, and Extremists
A third user commented, “America is dark and depraved because there are people like Mike Johnson. They are haters, dividers, and extremists who believe their way is the only way. They believe that morality can come only from their belief structure which is absolutely untrue.”
Christian Nationalist
A fourth user wrote, “Mike Johnson the Christian Nationalist should know God created everyone equal and in his likeness. If he’s such a good Christian, he can’t pick and choose who he supports as that would show how hypocritical the speaker of hate is.”
The post Mike Johnson Shares Insights on America’s Evolving Cultural Landscape Before Assuming House Speaker Role first appeared on Pulse of Pride.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Allen J.M. Smith. The people shown in the images are for illustrative purposes only, not the actual people featured in the story.
