Editor’s note: See update below.
A Republican U.S. Congressman from Louisiana is scheduled to deliver the keynote speech at a Bible conference hosted by infamous “Kill the Gays” Pastor Kevin Swanson. Swanson made headlines in 2015 for saying gay people should be put to death.
As Right Wing Watch has reported, Swanson has called HIV/AIDS, “God’s retribution,” and “defended Uganda’s kill-the-gays bill, warned that the Girl Scouts, women’s soccer and movies like ‘Frozen’ turn girls into lesbians, and accused gay people of causing devastating floods and hurricanes.”
Freshman U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson (R-LA) in August will deliver a speech titled “The Bible: Equipping the Man of God for Politics and the Culture War,” at Swanson’s Bible Family Conference, according to the current schedule. Johnson has ties to at least two anti-gay hate groups: the Alliance Defending Freedom and the Family Research Council.
Rep. Johnson was a senior attorney and national media spokesman for the Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-gay hate group that has brought a high-profile case claiming oppression of a Christian cake baker before the U.S. Supreme Court. Ironically, despite agreeing to speak at Swanson’s conference, Rep. Johnson authored a “Commitment to Civility,” signed by 53 members of Congress.
Others expected to speak at Pastor Swanson’s event include radical Christian Bible extremist Ken Ham, Hobby Lobby President Steve Green, and far right wing evangelist Ray Comfort, responsible for actor Kirk Cameron’s transformation into an evangelical.
Here’s Swanson speaking in 2015, shortly before hosting GOP presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Bobby Jindal, and Mike Huckabee:
“Throughout my career,” Johnson says in the Facebook photo at the top, standing with anti-gay hate group leader Tony Perkins, “I have worked tirelessly to support legislation that protects conservative values of faith, family and freedom.”
“This week, I was honored by the Family Research Council with the True Blue Award for my vote on critical bills that protect life and promote fiscal responsibility.”
An email to Rep. Johnson’s office did not immediately receive a response.
UPDATE: 05.02.18 –
Rep. Johnson’s office responded to our inquiry. They first claimed:
“Congressman Johnson was invited to speak to a Christian conference in August. He was unaware of Mr. Swanson’s participation and of his previous comments. Once this was brought to the congressman’s attention, he immediately denounced those comments and withdrew his participation.”
When NCRM replied, noting there was no record of Rep. Johnson denouncing Swanson’s remarks, Johnson’s office responded: “The Congressman was asked by a friend not associated with Swanson or his organization to join a Bible conference in D.C. Once he learned of Swanson’s connection to the conference he immediately withdrew his participation.”
After NCRM’s article Rep. Johnson’s name was removed from the schedule at Swanson’s Bible Family Conference.
Johnson’s office also told NCRM: “Congressman Johnson believes and has publicly stated many times that all people are made in God’s image, and God calls us to love all and to treat every person with dignity and respect.”
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