First published in the Dallas Voice.

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, Oct. 25, elected Louisiana Congressman Mike Johnson as Speaker of the House, and LGBTQ groups quickly denounced Johnson as a homophobic extremist.

“Once again, House Republicans have shown that Donald Trump is their master and they will do whatever he orders them to do,” said People for the American Way President Svante Myrick. “This time, the GOP has obediently elected hard-right, MAGA Rep. Mike Johnson as speaker. Johnson is an election denier who has indulged in some of the most noxious, racist, white nationalist conspiracy theories out there. He’s on record raging about immigration and embracing nationalist ‘great replacement’ and ‘invasion’ rhetoric. He supports a national abortion ban and opposes equal rights for LGBTQ+ Americans. Instead of electing someone like Johnson who is so out of step with the American people, House Republicans should have listened to voices of reason and pursued a power-sharing agreement that might have allowed the House to get the serious work of this country done.”

Read the full article in the Dallas Voice.