Rep. Angie Craig Wishes Wife Happy Anniversary Before Voting Against Anti-LGBTQ House Speaker Mike Johnson

Virginia Chamlee
·2 min read
181
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

The openly lesbian congresswoman received a standing ovation during Wednesday's House speaker election following a thinly veiled dig at the socially conservative Republican nominee

<p>Courtesy of Congresswoman Angie Craig

Courtesy of Congresswoman Angie Craig's Office

Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig (right) with her wife, Cheryl Greene

Democratic Rep. Angie Craig offered anniversary wishes to her wife during Wednesday's House speaker election — a thinly veiled dig at the ultimately victorious Republican nominee, Louisiana Rep. Mike Johnson.

During a vote to elect the next House speaker, Craig joined other Democrats in supporting House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. But before casting her vote, the Minnesotan said, "Happy anniversary to my wife!" to a chorus of applause from some of her fellow lawmakers.

Craig's acknowledgement of her marriage — followed by her vote for Jeffries — carried some subtext, as Johnson's congressional tenure has been characterized by a strong opposition to LGBTQ+ rights.

Related: Angie Craig Ousts Minnesota Congressman Who Made Controversial Comments About 'Sluts'

<p>Courtesy of Congresswoman Angie Craig's Office</p> Angie Craig (right) and wife Cheryl Greene pose with their children at their 2008 wedding

Courtesy of Congresswoman Angie Craig's Office

Angie Craig (right) and wife Cheryl Greene pose with their children at their 2008 wedding

A deeply religious social conservative, Johnson has voiced disapproval of the landmark Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2015. In 2022, he introduced a bill aiming to ban mention of sexual orientation and gender identity in federally funded institutions. Called the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act, it was equated to Florida's controversial "Don't Say Gay" bill.

Related: House Republicans Target LGBTQ People with National 'Don't Say Gay' Bill, Testing GOP Values Ahead of Midterms

Johnson previously served as an attorney and spokesperson for the anti-LGBTQ group Alliance Defending Freedom, a religious organization that many have said was largely responsible for the reversal of Roe v. Wade last year.

<p> SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty</p> House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican elected to replace Kevin McCarthy on Oct. 25, 2023

SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican elected to replace Kevin McCarthy on Oct. 25, 2023

On Wednesday, Johnson won the House speaker election in a 220-209 vote on party lines.

Johnson was the fourth speaker-designate put forth by the party this month after former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy was ousted in an unprecedented recall initiated by far-right Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz.

Without a speaker, Congress was stalled for three weeks as the fragmented House Republican Conference struggled to unite behind a candidate.

Related: Mike Johnson Named the GOP's Latest Candidate for House Speaker Hours After Tom Emmer Withdrew: What to Know

Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Angie Craig
Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Angie Craig

Craig, meanwhile, made headlines earlier this year when she was assaulted in an apartment elevator and defended herself by throwing hot coffee in the assailant's face.

Craig's chief of staff announced the news of her attack in February, saying the Democrat had "suffered bruising but is otherwise physically okay" after the attack.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.