Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson defends comments he made 15 years ago about same-sex marriage, but says he ‘loves all people, regardless of their lifestyle choices’

Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson has defended his Bible-believing “worldview” while answering a question about his past comments on gay marriage.

Johnson was elected on Wednesday to lead the majority in the House of Representatives, receiving all 220 votes of Republicans in parliament.

The next evening, the 51-year-old lawmaker sat down with Sean Hannity for an interview at the Capitol.

Hannity spoke about Johnson’s previous work as an attorney and spokesperson for the Alliance Defense Fund, now known as Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian advocacy group.

“Your comments on homosexuality, both in writing and in your advocacy for this group, calling it sinful, destructive and not supporting same-sex marriage, quote: ‘no clear right to sodomy in the Constitution,’” Hannity said.

‘You will be held accountable for this. And I want to ask you about it. I want to know exactly, you know, where you stand. Some of these comments were made 15 years ago,” he continued.

Johnson was asked to explain his previous comments on gay marriage. “I want to know exactly where you stand,” Hannity said

The father of four, pictured here with his family, worked as an attorney and spokesperson for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian advocacy group

The 51-year-old Louisiana representative was elected Wednesday, capping a tumultuous 22-day search for a new chairman.

Johnson replied that he “didn’t remember some of them.”

“I was a trial attorney who was called upon to defend the state’s marriage amendments,” he said, describing how people in more than 30 states took to the ballot to change state constitutions in the early 2000s. “I was a defender of religious freedom and was called to defend these cases in court.”

Johnson added, “But I also genuinely love all people, regardless of their lifestyle choices. It’s not about the people themselves. I am a Bible believing Christian.

‘Take a Bible off your shelf and read it – that’s my worldview. That’s what I believe and that’s why I make no apologies for it.”

While working for the Alliance Defense Fund, Johnson wrote his opposition to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Lawrence v. Texas, which struck down state laws that criminalized homosexual activity between consenting adults.

In September 2004, lawmakers expressed support for a Louisiana amendment banning same-sex marriage.

“Homosexual relationships are inherently unnatural and, the research shows, ultimately harmful and costly to everyone,” he wrote.

In another column from the same year, Johnson described gay marriage as a “moral lapse,” adding, “Experts project that same-sex marriage is the dark harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy that could bring down even the strongest republic.”

His most recent comments came in a 2005 op-ed in which he stated: “Your race, religion and gender are what you are, while homosexuality and cross-dressing are things you do. This is a free country, but we offer no special protection for everyone’s bizarre choices.”

In the interview, Johnson explained that he was a “religious freedom advocate” who was called to champion cases in states that opposed gay marriage.

The newly elected speaker added, “But I also sincerely love all people, regardless of their lifestyle choices.”

Johnson, pictured here with his wife Kelly (left), entered Congress in 2017 and is serving his fourth term

Johnson was unanimously elected chairman after 22 days, thirteen failed candidates, four nominees and four floor votes.

The Republican from Louisiana is a father of four and joined Congress in 2017 and is serving his fourth term.

Before entering politics, he was a partner at the Kitchens Law Firm and principal counsel for the nonprofit Freedom Guard.

Johnson described his legal career as focusing on “defending religious freedom, the sanctity of human life and biblical values, including the defense of traditional marriage and other ideals such as these when under attack.”

From 2004 to 2012, Johnson served as a trustee of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission.

Johnson then served for one term in the Louisiana House of Representatives for the 8th District from 2015 to 2017. He decided to run for Congress in 2016 to replace outgoing Republican Rep. John Fleming.

The Louisiana lawmaker is an avid Trump supporter. He has earned the former president’s support in his re-election bid since 2016 and has attended several rallies.

He opposed the certification of the results of the 2020 presidential election and took the lead in filing a summary judgment in a lawsuit seeking to overturn Biden’s victory. The congressman was also a member of Trump’s impeachment defense team.

Johnson already holds leadership in the House of Representatives as vice chairman of the Republican Conference.

He serves as assistant whip and is a member and former chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee. Johnson also serves on the Judiciary and Armed Services committees.

After the shooting in Lewiston, Maine, which left at least 18 people dead, the new president said: “This is a dark time in America. We have a lot of problems and we are very hopeful and prayerful. At a time like this, prayer is appropriate.

‘So that is the statement this morning on behalf of the entire House of Representatives. Everyone wants this to end, and I’ll leave it at that.’