—Declared his support for the right-wing boycott of Target due to the retailer’s LGBTQ-inclusive Pride Month merchandise saying that shopping at Target is not “honoring God.” LGBTQ Nation reports that “Johnson ranted about Target during the recently unearthed May 27, 2023 episode of his Truth be Told with Mike & Kelly Johnson podcast, where he interviewed the leader of the anti-LGBTQ+ hate group Family Research Council, Tony Perkins. Johnson first talked about inflation and supply chain issues but then said that “underneath all that are these root problems,” one of which was the LGBTQ+ Pride displays.”
—Without basis claimed that President Biden “betrayed the central tenet of Easter” by “proclaiming Easter Sunday as ‘Transgender Day'” adding that it “is outrageous and abhorrent.” In fact, Easter changes dates each year due to the and Trans Day of Visibility, the correct name for the annual awareness day, always falls on March 31.
—Said America’s culture was “so dark and depraved that it almost seems irredeemable,” and cited LGBTQ people as a factor that could incite God’s wrath if America doesn’t “restore the foundations and return to Him.” On a prayer call hosted by a Christian nationalist pastor, Johnson complained that “one-in-four high school students identifies as something other than straight,” and that this was one of the reasons for God may impose “judgement of our collective sins.”
—Wrote the foreword to and publicly promoted The Revivalist Manifesto, a 2022 book by Louisiana politics blogger Scott McKay that spread baseless and discredited conspiracy theories and used derogatory homophobic insults. The book describes Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg as “Gay Mayor Pete Buttigieg,” the “queer choice” for a Cabinet position, and describes him as “openly, and obnoxiously, gay.” The book also gives credence to unfounded conspiracy theories including Pizzagate, the false claim that top Democratic officials were involved in a pedophile ring. On Johnson’s podcast he said, “I obviously believe in the product, or I wouldn’t have written the foreword. So I endorse the work.”
“I think we need to spend less time talking about the no-name, now ex-Congressman from New York who never had any real power to begin with. The real scandal is about the man who is currently second in line for the presidency.”
@jrpsaki explains why: pic.twitter.com/3ENLliDhHM— Inside with Jen Psaki (@InsideWithPsaki) December 3, 2023
—Said that parents should not be allowed to let their children have access to transgender health care: “A parent has no right to sexually transition a young child,” he said at a hearing on transgender youth. He baselessly described transgender health care as “abuse” and “physical harm,” and said, “No parent has a constitutional right to injure their children.” In fact, health care for transgender people and youth is mainstream medical care supported by every major medical association and leading world health authority. Argued that states have the right to regulate transgender health care, such as puberty blockers, despite several federal courts blocking or striking down state laws banning such care.
—His wife, Kelly Johnson, operates a “counseling” business that advocates the belief that homosexuality is comparable to bestiality and incest, according to its operating documents. So-called “conversion therapy” is prohibited by law in 22 states prohibit this absurd practice because it is dangerous to LGBTQ youth, as both inaccurate and ineffective. Onward Christian Counseling Services’ 2017 operating agreement states: “We believe and the Bible teaches that any form of sexual immorality, such as adultery, fornication, homosexuality, bisexual conduct, bestiality, incest, pornography or any attempt to change one’s sex, or disagreement with one’s biological sex, is sinful and offensive to God.” Mike Johnson notarized the document. The company’s website is no longer accessible online.
—Authored a federal “don’t say LGBTQ” bill in 2022 that would prohibit federal funding for any “sexually-oriented” event or material for children under the age of 10. The legislation would have affected public libraries, public schools, and military bases, and hospitals. The bill draws inspiration from anti-LGBTQ state legislation in Florida.
—Played a key role in efforts to overturn Joe Biden’s electoral victory in the 2020 election and keep Donald Trump in power despite losing the 2020 election. Johnson led the amicus brief signed by more than 100 House Republicans in support of a Texas lawsuit seeking to overturn the 2020 election results in four swing states. The New York Times called Johnson “the most important architect of the Electoral College objections” on Jan. 6, 2021. Johnson propagated a discredited conspiracy theory involving Hugo Chávez and Dominion voting systems.
—Voted against the bipartisan “Respect for Marriage Act” to codify same-sex marriage. President Biden signed it into law in 2022.
—Co-sponsored legislation by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, called the Protect Children’s Innocence Act, that would make it a crime to provide transgender health care to people under 18 years of age.
—Has close ties to the extreme anti-LGBTQ group Alliance Defending Freedom which advocates for laws and policies around the world that target LGBTQ people. Johnson previously served as a senior attorney and spokesperson for ADF and is an ADF allied attorney in Congress, meaning he agrees with the organization’s anti-LGBTQ statement of faith and provides pro bono legal support on behalf of the group. While an attorney at ADF, Johnson received the “Family, Faith, and Freedom Award” from the Family Research Council, an Southern Poverty Law Center designated anti-LGBTQ hate group.
—Collaborated closely with and advised Exodus International, a now-defunct “ex-gay ministry” that promoted the so-called “conversion therapy,” a discredited and harmful attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. As a lawyer, Johnson gave Exodus International legal advice, “and partnered with the group to put on an annual anti-gay event aimed at teens,” reports CNN. Exodus International shut down in 2013 when its founder issuing a public apology for the “pain and hurt” his organization caused. Conversion therapy has been widely condemned by most major medical institutions and has been shown to be harmful and potentially deadly to LGBTQ people.
—Sponsored a religious exemptions bill that would have made it easier to discriminate against LGBTQ people in Louisiana.
—Introduced the “Marriage and Conscience Act,” a virulently anti-LGBTQ bill that explicitly allows discrimination against same-sex couples in Louisiana.
—Advocated for the criminalization of homosexuality and pushed a baseless pseudohistorical theory that homosexuality caused the fall of the Roman Empire.