I am proud to have drafted this statement for the Mass. LGBTQ Bar Association, and for the editing and votes of support by the Board!

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On October 25th, a little-known member of the U.S. House of Representatives was elected Speaker.  Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) has a decades-long embrace of extreme anti-LGBTQ initiatives which gives us cause for grave concern.

We have already seen how rights, believed to be secure, can be blithely rolled back.  Last year, abortion rights were gutted by a radical Supreme Court majority, aided and abetted by Justice Coney Barrett, against whom we previously issued a statement of disapproval.  Reactionary members of SCOTUS opined that other precedents, including the right to same sex sexual relations and same sex marriage, may be next.

While we are fortunate to represent the LGBTQ bar of Massachusetts, a leader in same sex rights, we now condemn that an unrepentant homophobe occupies the office of Speaker of the House.

Mike Johnson’s history of hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community is well documented.  He has argued in favor of:  criminalizing gay sex, conversion therapy, banning same sex marriage, linking LGBTQ+ people with pedophilia, and allowing businesses to discriminate against members of our community.  In 2004, he asserted in a local newspaper op-ed that same sex marriage would “undermine the entire democratic system” [1] His views have not evolved over the years; in fact they have hardened.  Last year, Mr. Johnson introduced a bill entitled “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act” modeled after odious legislation enacted in Florida. [2]

Mr. Johnson’s goal of shrinking the gap between (his version of) church and state bodes ill for LGBTQ rights.  As we seek to support our allies in Louisiana, perhaps it is best to conclude with the words of Baton Rouge Metro Councilman John Delgado who, in 2015, described Johnson as a “despicable bigot of the highest order.” [3] We concur.

-Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association Board of Directors

[1] https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-kfile/134019997/

[2] https://www.npr.org/2022/10/21/1130297123/national-dont-say-gay-stop-children-sexualization-bill

[3] https://web.archive.org/web/20150420005427/http://www.nola.com/news/baton-rouge/index.ssf/2015/04/louisiana_religious_freedom_ib.html