Luther Strange's Alabama Opponent Roy Moore Thinks 'Homosexual Conduct' Should Be Illegal

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Suspended Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore speaks to parishioners at The Church of the Apostles September 7, 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia. Erik S. Lesser/Getty Images

Roy Moore, a Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Alabama, is under fire again after a 2005 interview in which he says he believes "homosexual conduct" should be illegal.

Moore, a Christian conservative and former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, was interviewed by Bill Press on C-SPAN2's After Words. He was on the show to publicize his book, "So Help Me God," in which he tells the story of his expulsion from the court after he refused to take down a Ten Commandments monument. He was also suspended from Alabama's Supreme Court for refusing to recognize the legalization of gay marriage nationwide and has urged state governors and legislators to do the same.

During the interview, Press read an excerpt from one of Moore's Supreme Court decisions in which Moore describes homosexuality as "abhorrent, immoral, detestable, a crime against nature and a violation of the laws of nature and nature's God upon which the nation and our laws are predicated."

Press asked Moore if he thought homosexuality should be illegal, and he responded by saying, "What I think is that it was illegal under the law, that the Supreme Court usurped the role of the legislature and ruled something about our moral law that is improper, and that's what we're finding the Supreme Court and the federal district courts are doing daily. They've usurped the moral prerogative, now, if you want..."

Press interrupted Moore to ask him to actually answer the question.

"I don't understand your answer," Press said. "I think it's a yes or no. Do you think that homosexual — homosexuality, or homosexual conduct — should be illegal today? That's a yes or no question."

"Homosexual conduct should be illegal, yes," Moore answered.

After being removed from office twice over refusing to take down a Ten Commandments monument and for his stance against marriage equality, Moore's views might actually help him secure his base of Alabama's evangelical voters. Moore was not immediately available for comment Thursday.

Moore is running against Luther Strange, a man President Donald Trump has thrown support behind by both endorsing Strange on Twitter and attending his rallies in Alabama.

Alabama is sooo lucky to have a candidate like "Big" Luther Strange. Smart, tough on crime, borders & trade, loves Vets & Military. Tuesday!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 20, 2017

The NRA strongly endorses Luther Strange for Senator of Alabama.That means all gun owners should vote for Big Luther. He won't let you down!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 21, 2017

Moore has a few big name endorsements as well, including Sarah Palin, Mike Huckabee, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity and Chuck Norris, who said, "Judge Roy Moore is the real deal. He's tough, tested, and has a spine of steel."

Later on in the After Words interview, Press asked Moore why he thought the government should regulate what consenting adults do in their home. Moore responded by comparing gay sex to bestiality.

"Just because it's done behind closed doors, it can still be prohibited by state law," Moore said. "Do you know that bestiality, the relationship between man and beast is prohibited in every state?"

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Christianna Silva is a staff writer for Newsweek covering civil rights with a focus on LGBT issues and police brutality. ... Read more

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