Former Green Bay Packer LeRoy Butler revealed that he was fired from a church speaking engagement because he tweeted a congratulatory message to openly gay NBA player Jason Collins.
Butler spoke with Outsports about the incident. "That pastor was talking to me like I was the devil," said Butler. "Sometimes religious people think they’re better than everybody else and that bothers me."
"He started giving me all these scriptures about God looking down on gay people. I said, ‘Look, if you want to believe that, this is me coming to tell my story to these kids.' There’s only one thing my mom told me. Only God judges, not you. You can pick and choose what you want from the Bible but don’t tell me about it."
"It really bothered me that he was quoting all of these scriptures to make me feel bad. I said, ‘No, I stand as a man for the little kids who are hiding somewhere and need someone to speak for them.’ I went to church every Sunday growing up. And I love everybody. We may agree to disagree, and the church says one thing, and we can agree to disagree. But man, that pastor was talking to me like I was the devil."
On his willingness to play with a gay teammate:
"NFL players have told me they won’t play with a gay player. But if the top quarterback of the next 10 years comes out in his prime, you’re gonna accept it because he can throw for 4,500 yards and take you to the Super Bowl. If he can’t play, that’s one thing. But if he can play, you don’t care."
LeRoy Butler said that he was scheduled to give an "anti-bullying presentation" to the church. Butler will not identify the church or pastor but the noted the irony to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "If you ask for forgiveness and remove the tweet and you say something to the effect that you don't congratulate (Collins) then we'll let you do the engagement and get the speaker's fee," the anti-gay pastor told him.
Delete the tweet, ask for forgiveness, condemn the gay guy ... and then you can get paid, my brotha! Hallelujah!
LeRoy Butler played his entire 11-season NFL career with the Green Bay Packers from 1990–2001. He was four times All-Pro, four times Pro Bowl and was a key player on the Packers' Super Bowl XXXI championship.
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Good For Him!! Much Respect!
Posted by: DW Jazzlover | 02 May 2013 at 15:56
Sounds like that pastor was channeling old sister Eddie Long.
By the way, does anyone know what or if that old queen (Long) has had anything to say on his coming out?
Posted by: Gurlene | 02 May 2013 at 15:56
"...if that old queen (Long) has had anything to say on his coming out?"
Yeah, she said, "he's too old for me. Maybe 20 years ago he'd have been perfect"
Posted by: Derrick from Philly | 02 May 2013 at 16:25
Bravo LeRoy Butler.
Sounds like that pastor needs some help...she protests a little bit too much for me!
Posted by: reggieh | 02 May 2013 at 18:51
Sadly these "pastors" are still preaching hate and brainwashing their congregation into thinking the same.
Good to see Butler stick by his principles and not give into this negative pressure.
Posted by: fff | 03 May 2013 at 06:50
I think the world will change first, and then somewhere far down the road the church will need to adjust or perish.
Thank you for sharing this story.
Posted by: Jim Lunsford | 03 May 2013 at 16:35