Johnson’s strident LGBTQ views put advocates on alert

In the week since Republicans voted unanimously to elect Rep. Mike Johnson (R-La.) the Speaker of the House, LGBTQ lawmakers and civil rights advocates have criticized the once little-known congressman’s conservative record on same-sex marriage and transgender rights and questioned his ability to lead the House on LGBTQ issues with impartiality.

His background suggests he may allow a controversial bill to come to the floor.

As an attorney and former spokesperson for the conservative Christian legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, Johnson authored op-eds that advocated for the criminalization of gay sex and suggested that…