WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Congressional Equality Caucus released the following statement condemning House Republicans for electing Congressman Mike Johnson (LA-04) to Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“Today, the House had the opportunity to elect a Speaker of the House who could lead in a bipartisan manner to move America forward. Instead, extreme MAGA Republicans elected a Speaker who has dedicated his career to attacking LGBTQI+ people and pushing an anti-equality agenda,” said Equality Caucus Chair Mark Pocan (WI-02). “The House has already taken more than 10 anti-equality votes this Congress. By electing Mike Johnson—a vehement opponent of LGBTQI+ equality—as Speaker, his supporters have signaled they want these attacks against our community to continue.”
Congressman Mike Johnson has a demonstrated career in attacking LGBTQI+ people across the country and pushing extreme anti-equality legislation:
- Before becoming a member of Congress, Johnson worked as a lawyer for Alliance Defending Freedom, a known anti-LGBTQI+ hate group.
- Rep. Johnson has introduced several anti-LGBTQI+ bills at both the state and federal levels, including a state license to discriminate bill in Louisiana and a federal ‘Don’t Say LGBTQ+’ bill.
- He has consistently voted against pro-LGBTQI+ bills, such as the Equality Act and Respect for Marriage Act, and for anti-equality bills, such as the federal trans and intersex sports ban. He is also a cosponsor of several anti-equality bills introduced this Congress, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s federal gender-affirming care ban.
- He is the Chair of the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Constitution and Limited Government. As Chair this Congress, he held a hearing in July attacking gender-affirming care.
