Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker mentioned Pride Month in his commencement speech at Benedictine College, with events in June demonstrating inclusivity and support for the LGBTQ+ community. As an example of “mortal sin,” he advocated a more conservative brand of Catholicism.
“Not the kind of deadly sinful pride that takes a whole month to commemorate, but a true God-centered pride that works with the Holy Spirit to glorify Him,” Butke said.
Butker spoke for more than 20 minutes to students at Atchison Catholic School in Kansas, saying he hoped the graduating class would prevent political leaders from interfering in social issues that affect their relationship with the church.
Bartek, 28, criticized an Associated Press article about the U.S. Catholic Church that detailed the institution’s shift “toward the old ways.” It highlighted that Benedictine rules “look like precepts from a bygone era”, including “voluntary 3am prayers” and “a prohibition on pornography, premarital sex and sunbathing in bathing suits”.
Bartek said the story was an “attempt to condemn and shame” a place like Benedictine where people would feel “proud” rather than “angry.”
Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of the nonprofit LGBTQ advocacy group GLAAD, said in a statement Wednesday that Butker’s speech was “inaccurate, ill-informed, and out of touch with the American people.” Severely inconsistent views on pride, LGBTQ people and women”.
“Those with broad platforms, especially athletes, should use their voices to elevate and expand understanding and acceptance in the world,” she said. “Instead, Butker’s comments undermined experiences other than his own and demonstrated a breach of his team’s commitment to the Kansas City community and the NFL’s standards of respect, inclusion and diversity across the league.”
Benedictine College, which has more than 2,100 full-time undergraduate students as of September 2022, describes itself as a liberal arts institution that “educates men and women within communities of faith and leadership.” Bartek called on religious leaders to “stay on their path and lead” and praised Benedict for embracing what he called traditional Catholic values.
“When you embrace tradition, secular and spiritual success will follow,” Butke said.
In October 2014, the school ordered basketball player Jallen Messersmith to remove a pride flag from his dormitory window.
Butker also used the speech to criticize President Biden on several issues, including abortion and the coronavirus pandemic, and questioned Biden’s devotion to Catholicism. Bartek also spoke about gender ideology, saying that the most important title for a woman is “housewife.”
“It’s you, the women, who have been told the most vicious lies. Some of you may go on to have successful careers in the world, but I would venture to guess that most of you are concerned about your marriages and the lives you will lead. Children are most excited to enter this world,” Butker said.
The Chiefs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Although the NFL is not during Pride Month, the league is still involved in LGBTQ+ events. On the Wednesday before Super Bowl XVIII, the NFL partnered with LGBTQ+ advocacy organization GLAAD to host a Pride Night event. The Chiefs are one of the NFL teams to have a rainbow-colored Pride selection of apparel.
Kansas City is one of many North American cities hosting Pride events in June, led by the Kansas City Pride Community Alliance.
Butker is a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Chiefs. He was a seventh-round draft pick in 2017 and made 33 of 35 shots in the 2023 season.
(Photo: Chris Unger/Getty Images)
