WATCH: Klingenschmitt Claims He'll 'Tone Down Rhetoric' as Legislator

Of course, we're more than a bit skeptical. But that's what he tells talk-show host David Pakman.

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.

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Trudy Ring

November 11 2014 8:27 PM EST

November 17 2015 5:28 AM EST

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Gordon Klingenschmitt, the antigay preacher just elected to the Colorado House of Representatives, today told progressive talk-show host David Pakman that he "will probably tone down the rhetoric" in his role as a state legislator and that he won't try to legislated exorcisms of gay people.

Klingenschmitt was apparently seeking to present a more mainstream image in his appearance on The David Pakman Show, which is syndicated nationally on radio and television. But that didn't stop him from denouncing the "tyrannical judges" who have "imposed" same-sex marriage on many states. "I think this year's election was a repudiation of that judicial tyranny," Klingenschmitt said.

Pakman brought up Klingenschmitt's history of claiming to have exorcised demons from LGBT people, therefore turning them straight, and his statements that gay people are going to hell. The host wondered how, then, Klingenschmitt would work with Colorado House speaker Mark Ferrandino, who is gay. Klingenschmitt responded that his religious views shouldn't disqualify him from public office and that there would be no reason for him to discuss such topics as a legislator. "As an elected official I will probably tone down the rhetoric," he said.

Whether that will happen is open to question, but in the meantime you can watch the segment below.