John Merrill Says U.S. Is 'Obsessed' With Homosexual Activity

MONTGOMERY, AL — Secretary of State John Merrill announced recently that he is running for U.S. Senate in 2020, and is already causing a stir with some comments he made this past weekend regarding what he sees as a problem with the country's "obsession with homosexual activities."

Merrill confirmed in an Alabama Media Group report that he believes there are no longer t.v. shows "that are based on biblical foundations. ...Shows that promote family and culture with a father, a mother and children based on biblical teachings and biblical principles on which our nation was founded."

Merrill said the U.S. is losing its moral core because Americans are "preoccupied with homosexual activities" and "the wife swap shows" that are on television. He said there aren't any shows like "Gunsmoke" or "The Virginian." He declined to provide examples of the country's obsession with "homosexual activities."

Merrill is among five candidates vying for the Republican nomination to challenge Sen. Doug Jones. Merrill’s Republican rivals include former GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore, U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne of Fairhope, former Auburn football coach Tommy Tuberville and state Rep. Arnold Mooney of Shelby County.

Merrill's comments echo some of the same sentiments that Moore has made regarding homosexuals, although not quite as scathing. Moore has openly denounced homosexuality, even saying homosexuality is "an act of sexual misconduct punishable as a crime in Alabama, a crime against nature, an inherent evil, and an act so heinous that it defies one's ability to describe it." His second removal from office after he was again elected to the position of Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court was because he refused to enforce the SCOTUS ruling in favor of same-sex marriage.

Merrill said he would not resign as secretary during the elections, which has caused some controversy as well, after the mid-term elections in Georgia resulted in a gubernatorial victory by then-Secretary of State Brian Kemp. Overseeing elections is one of the primary duties of the secretary of state, and critics believe serving in that capacity while also running for office is a conflict of interest.