Big changes in Washington can mean trouble for people who party.

The Speaker is the top Republican honcho in the House of Representatives.

Every member has an election every two years, so they think about raising money and winning elections all the time.  The Speaker must help the members of his political party win a majority every two years.

Mike Johnson of Louisiana is the new Speaker; it’s an important job. If there is a catastrophe where President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris both die, then the law makes Mr. Johnson President. In other words, he is a big deal, under the law and in politics.

But Mike Johnson is a devout Christian evangelist. He is against gay marriage, abortion and strip clubs.  In his new job, he may change his positions and stop insisting that everyone obey his religious beliefs. Much as I distrust him, he may prove me wrong and modify his views with his new responsibilities.

But we can’t be certain, so it makes sense for people who party to get organized and protect their rights.

Johnson’s opposition to abortion reflects a simple fact. When he was born his mom was 17.  People who support a women’s right to choose would probably tell his mom to stop the pregnancy and wait a few years.  If the Speaker’s mom had followed this advice, Mr. Johnson would never have been born. His family history makes him a foe of abortion. People who party should allow women to consult their doctors and make up their own mind. If you live in a free country, then you have a right to choose.

Mike Johnson’s history has to make people who party nervous. Louisiana is a party state. Bourbon Street in New Orleans is famous worldwide. Shreveport, where Johnson started his political career, is a casino city. Riverboats have casinos to attract tourists. It should come as no surprise that people who gamble for fun also visit strip joints.

At the start of his career, Mr. Johnson tried to shut a strip tease bar. According to the Washington Post, Johnson claimed, “I have done an exhaustive legal research.” It was the start of his career and “he told municipal lawmakers in April 2002.” The arrival of another “‘sexually oriented business,’ or “SOB” as he called it, would spread sexually transmitted diseases and other social ills,” the Washington Post reported.

As might be expected, Louisiana permitted “gentleman’s clubs” and Mr. Johnson’s campaign failed as the State’s courts rejected his arguments.

Clearly, Mr. Johnson’s history suggests he might attack the pleasures enjoyed by people who don’t share his strict religious beliefs. Even though the law permitted strip clubs with few restrictions, Mr. Johnson tried to shut down the Déjà Vu club in Shreveport, and failed.

The Post concluded that this “enhanced the power of religious conservatives and propelled his political career.”

In other words, Mr. Johnson needs to be closely watched if we are to protect people who party.