Iowa radio host Jan Mickelson opened his show Tuesday by concurring with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that homosexuality is an “ugly behavior” and accusing CNN's Piers Morgan of “moral, intellectual bankruptcy” for broaching the subject in an interview with the leader Monday night.

From WHO-AM 1040 (emphasis added):

[playing clip of CNN interview]

PIERS MORGAN: Shouldn't freedom and individuality in all those things also extend to people who just happen to be gay? Who were born gay. They weren't made gay. Wouldn't it be great for the president of Iran to say, 'you know something, everyone's entitled to be whatever sexuality they are born to be.' That would be a great symbol of freedom.

MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: Do you really believe that someone is born homosexual?

MORGAN: Yes. I absolutely believe that. Yes, I do.

AHMADINEJAD: I'm sorry, let me ask you this. Do you believe that anyone is given birth to through homosexuality? Homosexuality ceases procreation. Who has said that if you like or believe in doing something ugly and others do not accept your behavior, they are denying your freedom? Who says that? Who says that?

Perhaps in a country, they wish to legitimize stealing -- 

MORGAN: You are a father of three. You are a father of -- you have two sons and a daughter. What would you do if one of them was gay?

AHMADINEJAD: Ah, these things have different ways - the proper education must be given, proper -- the education system must be revamped, the political system must be revamped, and these must be also reformed and revamped along the way. But if you - if a group - recognizes an ugly behavior or ugly deed as legitimate, you must not expect other countries or other groups to give it the same recognition.

[end CNN clip]

JAN MICKELSON: Gee, we're still struggling with those same issues in almost exactly the same terms, but I think it is absolutely fascinating that a moment of international tension -- where literally nuclear exchanges could occur -- incendiary comments about the legitimacy of countries and the roots of the legitimacy of Israel have been challenged and they're going to be eliminated. What does CNN ask? 'Hey, what if your kids are gay?' That is a demonstration of the absolute moral, intellectual bankruptcy of Western, mainstream media and that particular journalist -- how values can be so topsy-turvy.

And the weird thing is, you know, on that exchange I've got to go with that Iranian fellow. Did I ever think I would be the position to actually agree with the potential-serial killing, nuclear-crazed [inaudible]. Talk about ironies. Anyway. Wow.

This was not Mickelson's first foray into anti-gay commentary. He has referred to the LGBT community as a “religious cult,” and suggested that AIDS is God's “invention” to “punish” the “stupid behavior” of homosexuality, which forced Clear Channel Communications (which owns the 50kW WHO-AM 1040) to issue an on-air statement criticizing Mickelson.

Equality for the LGBT community is at the forefront of political discourse in Iowa, where conservatives are waging a campaign to oust Iowa Supreme Court Justice David Wiggins, who “was among seven Iowa justices who voted unanimously in a 2009 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage in Iowa.”