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A: My point has never been that any individual, gay or straight, could or could not be a good parent. My concern is always the well-being of children. And since your average child human being is heterosexual, it seems to me self-evident that the best environment is with the polarity of a mother and a father joined in love, who raise that child with the image of what his future life will be. I say the same thing of straight, single women who have babies. It doesn't matter to me that you're a loving woman. You're not providing a dad, and it's in the best interest of a child to have a dad.
TIME: You've said, "If you're gay or a lesbian, it's a biological error that inhibits you from relating normally to the opposite sex." Do you really believe homosexuals are biological errors?
A: We have vaginas and penises. We were biologically meant to give birth to more people. Not being able to relate normally to a member of the opposite sex is some kind of error. I do not see that as insulting at all. It is a statement of biological fact. When you read the whole thing in context, I'm anything but insulting to human beings. Some people just don't want to hear the truth.
TIME: As a deeply religious person, does it trouble you that your words hurt so many people?
A: What concerns me is the hurt and frightened feelings of gays and lesbians and their families who have heard this rhetoric, which is untrue, and that has caused pain. To me, the folks who have an objection don't really listen to the show and are being disingenuous about their objections. It's about dialogue, which is pretty much squelched with respect to certain things.
TIME: Should people be able to say whatever they want on the radio?
A: In the United States of America, we have freedom of speech. It doesn't matter what I think. The Constitution guarantees it.
TIME: Any regrets about some of your comments, given the outcry that has resulted and the attempts to abort the show?
A: I regret that my words were taken out of context, distorted and lied about so people were hurt from the lies. But that's not my action. Any time I was on the air, I had context, clarity and compassion. What is distilled out does not.
TIME: If a married man realizes he is homosexual, should he stay in his marriage?
A: I have had calls like that, and I come down hard on people, the same way I come down hard on the guy who says he has the hots for the neighbor next door who wears short shorts. To me, it's the same thing. You made a vow. You have children. They deserve your sacrifice so they can have what they need to grow up because you made your choices already. So, for straight or gay, I would say the exact same thing.
TIME: But living that kind of double life surely cannot be good for children, can it?
A: It's not bad for children when someone does it for honor. There is always something more out there...but to just abandon and neglect your obligations and responsibilities--I can't go there.
TIME: Do you really believe everything you say, or do you just think it makes great talk radio?
A: That's insulting. The reason people like my show is they know there is no shtick. What I say, I mean deeply. I could not invoke the name of God or Scriptures if I was shticking. That's even awful to hear.