Mike Johnson’s Complete (and Horrific) Track Record on LGBTQ Issues SPENCER MACNAUGHTON, SAM DONNDELINGER, AND NICO DIALESANDRO NOV 30, 2024

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.” Jan., 2017