Who said that?

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MARY REICHARD, HOST: Coming next on The WORLD And Everything in it: Pushing back on pride!

We reported earlier in the month on the growing number of states, churches, and corporations distancing themselves from what’s called "Pride Month" and the causes it represents.

NICK EICHER, HOST: Well, the month may be coming to an end, but the battle is not. 

WORLD’s Myrna Brown introduces us to a pastor who keeps returning to the frontlines in Alabama.

MYRNA BROWN: In June 2023, Travis Johnson stood behind a podium and took his side in what he sees as a spiritual battle.

PASTOR TRAVIS JOHNSON: My heart is to see God do a really great work, and I just decided that I’m not going to be quiet. I’m not going to back up.

He was at his local City Hall.

MOBILE CITY COUNCIL CLERK: This is the regular meeting of the Mobile City Council, Tuesday, June the 6th….

The mayor had asked the 53-year-old pastor to open the meeting with a prayer.

JOHNSON: And it just happened on that same day there were a lot of people that were there to speak out against the drag queens that would be dancing in front of our historic cathedral downtown during Pride Month, so...

Pastor Johnson says he knew he had to make every word count.

JOHNSON: So Lord, on this point I pause and especially pray for the protection of the children of Mobile who are inundated and targeted by harmful agendas and social media from peers. At times in our schools, at times in our public libraries, and at times in our city parks.

The 5 minute 23 second prayer struck a nerve.

JOHNSON: And I pray these things in the powerful, good name of Jesus, Amen…[applause] / Amen…Halleluah!

Nobody said anything to me about that prayer, but after a few days I started getting some attention.

Media outlets began publishing stories about people in the community demanding Johnson apologize.

JOHNSON: And I had people starting to show up violently, very aggressive with language, bullying, harassing, doxxing our family. Where we live was put online, things about my wife and my children. And all for just a prayer.

The following Sunday, he responded from the pulpit of the church he’s pastored for the past decade.

JOHNSON: When the trumpet sounds at the hands of the kings of this age and of this world and they demand that you bow, listen to me, Pathway. Don’t bow. Stand. [applause]

What happened next exceeded his expectations. First, pastors from nearly 50 other local churches issued a joint statement supporting him.

JOHNSON: That we completely object to the taxpayer funding of various issues concerning LGBTQ activism.

The mayor took notice. Two months later…

JOHNSON: And he ended up firing the LGBTQ liaisons in the mayor’s office.

Dissolving those positions led to a five point reduction in the city of Mobile’s MEI score. That’s the Municipal Equality Index…a scorecard created by the Human Rights Campaign to publicize the ways cities interact with the LGBTQ agenda.

JOHNSON: It was a really unifying time for the church.

Johnson says he’s also become an unpopular member of the board of directors for Visit Mobile, the city’s nonprofit tourism bureau. Pastor Johnson says he’s the lone objector to a photo of a Pride event on the organization’s landing page.

JOHNSON: I was called by one of the board members a hate pastor, a hate preacher.

He says he knows he’s outnumbered, but he’s never out of questions.

JOHNSON: Well, we have Visit Mobile saying that we love all love. And I asked the question in the board meeting, who said that? When did we vote on that?

MYRNA: What does that mean?

JOHNSON: First of all, it sounds nice, but what you’re saying is we approve of grown men, six foot four linebackers in dresses, going into a bathroom with five year old little girls in there. And I just want to say this, I hope everybody hears this: If a man goes into a bathroom after one of my daughters, there’s going to be two men in the bathroom in just a minute.

Johnson’s latest attempt to change the culture of his city involves requesting the removal of pride banners hanging on poles throughout downtown Mobile.

JOHNSON: My response is to place a banner that says child awareness month. Stop child gender indoctrination.

The city says Pastor Johnson’s request is being processed through the system. Pastor Johnson is hoping the banners will go up in September, child awareness month.

Pastor Johnson says doing battle against a culture that celebrates a non-Biblical view of sexuality takes courage.

JOHNSON: Well for one thing, Scripture says that we’re blessed when we suffer, that we can be counted with Christ.

That’s why he considers standing up and speaking out to be a privilege. And he hopes others…in other places… will, too.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Myrna Brown in Mobile, Alabama

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