Newly elected Speaker Mike Johnson defends comments he made 15 years ago about gay 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 House majority leader on Wednesday, receiving all 220 votes from Republicans in attendance.

The following evening, the 51-year-old congressman met with Sean Hannity for an interview at the Capitol.

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

“You have made comments about homosexuality both in writing and in your advocacy for this group, calling it sinful and destructive and not supporting gay marriage. Quote: “There is no clear right to sodomy in the Constitution,” Hannity said.

“You’ve been teased over and over again about this.” And I want to ask you about it. I want to know exactly where you stand. “Some of these comments were made 15 years ago,” he continued.

House Speaker Mike Johnson met with Sean Hannity for an interview at the Capitol on Thursday

Johnson was asked to clarify his previous comments on same-sex 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 spokesman for the Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian advocacy group

The 51-year-old Louisiana lawmaker was elected Wednesday, capping a tumultuous 22-day search for a new speaker

Johnson responded that he “couldn’t remember some of them.”

“I was a litigator assigned to defend the state marriage amendments,” he said, describing how people in more than 30 states went to the polls in the early 2000s to change state constitutions. “I was a religious freedom advocate and was called to defend these cases in court.”

Johnson added, “But I also truly love all people, regardless of their lifestyle choices.” This is 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 dissent against 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 change in Louisiana law banning same-sex marriage.

“Homosexual relationships are inherently unnatural and, as the studies clearly show, ultimately harmful and costly for everyone,” he wrote.

In another column the same year, Johnson described same-sex marriage as a “moral decay,” adding: “Experts say gay marriage is the dark harbinger of chaos and sexual anarchy that will doom even the strongest republic could.”

His most recent comments came in a 2005 editorial in which he declared: “Your race, your creed and your gender are who you are, while homosexuality and cross-dressing are things you do.” “This is a free country , but we provide no special protection for each individual’s bizarre choices.”

In the interview, Johnson explained that he was a “religious freedom defender” called to defend cases in states that opposed gay marriage

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

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

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

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

Before entering politics, he was a partner at the Kitchens law firm and general counsel at the nonprofit Freedom Guard.

Johnson described his legal career as focused on “defending religious freedom, the sanctity of human life, and biblical values, including defending traditional marriage and other ideals like these when they have been attacked.”

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

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

The Louisiana lawmaker is a staunch Trump supporter who has secured the former president’s re-election support since 2016 and has attended several rallies.

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

Johnson is already a leader 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 sits on the Judiciary and Armed Services Committees.

After the shooting in Lewiston, Maine, that left at least 18 people dead, the new spokesman said: “This is a dark time in America.” We have many problems and are truly full of hope and prayer. At a time like this, prayer is appropriate.

“So that’s the statement this morning on behalf of the entire House of Representatives. ‘Everyone wants this to end and I’m going to leave it at that.’