WASHINGTON — Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, released the following statement from Executive Director Tony Hoang on Wednesday in response to the election of Mike Johnson (R-LA 4) as Speaker of the House following more than two weeks of failed votes:
“Mike Johnson is a far-right extremist and one of the most virulently anti-LGBTQ+ members of congress. He is unfit to serve as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and has no business holding such a revered position in American politics. Rep. Johnson previously introduced a federal ‘Don’t Say Gay or Trans’ bill modeled after Florida’s hateful and misguided legislation. He also co-sponsored a bill that would enact a national ban on gender-affirming care. Prior to his time in congress he served as a spokesperson for the Alliance Defending Freedom, which is one of the foremost anti-LGBTQ+ extremist groups in the United States and has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. In addition to his abysmal record on LGBTQ+ issues, Rep Johnson is also one of the most far-right members of Congress on abortion and reproductive rights, and played a key role in attempts to decertify the 2020 election. Equality California is ashamed of the following members of the California Congressional delegation who voted to elect Rep. Johnson as Speaker: Rep. Ken Calvert, Rep. John Duarte, Rep. Mike Garcia, Rep. Darrell Issa, Rep. Kevin Kiley, Rep. Young Kim, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Tom McClintock, Rep. Jay Obernolte, Rep. Michelle Steel, and Rep. David Valadao. We will not forget their votes, and they will be held accountable.”
“Mike Johnson is a far-right extremist and one of the most virulently anti-LGBTQ+ members of congress. He is unfit to serve as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and has no business holding such a revered position in American politics.
Rep. Johnson previously introduced a federal ‘Don’t Say Gay or Trans’ bill modeled after Florida’s hateful and misguided legislation. He also co-sponsored a bill that would enact a national ban on gender-affirming care. Prior to his time in congress he served as a spokesperson for the Alliance Defending Freedom, which is one of the foremost anti-LGBTQ+ extremist groups in the United States and has been designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
In addition to his abysmal record on LGBTQ+ issues, Rep Johnson is also one of the most far-right members of Congress on abortion and reproductive rights, and played a key role in attempts to decertify the 2020 election.
Equality California is ashamed of the following members of the California Congressional delegation who voted to elect Rep. Johnson as Speaker: Rep. Ken Calvert, Rep. John Duarte, Rep. Mike Garcia, Rep. Darrell Issa, Rep. Kevin Kiley, Rep. Young Kim, Rep. Doug LaMalfa, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Tom McClintock, Rep. Jay Obernolte, Rep. Michelle Steel, and Rep. David Valadao. We will not forget their votes, and they will be held accountable.”
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Equality California is the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ civil rights organization. We bring the voices of LGBTQ people and allies to institutions of power in California and across the United States, striving to create a world that is healthy, just, and fully equal for all LGBTQ people. We advance civil rights and social justice by inspiring, advocating and mobilizing through an inclusive movement that works tirelessly on behalf of those we serve. www.eqca.org
