GLAAD Joins NFL Diversity Head In Condemning Harrison Butker, But Does League Itself Agree?
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker and NFL executive Jonathan Beane both attended the Super Bowl week of festivities the last two years. So, in that small way, it could be said these two men who have different views of the world, share something in common.
Butker, you see, was at Super Bowl week representing the Chiefs in the NFL's signature game as a star special teams player.
Beane was at Super Bowl week representing the league as its senior vice president and chief diversity and inclusion officer.
PHOENIX - Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer SVP Jonathan Beane speaks onstage at a Night of Pride with GLAAD and NFL on February 8, 2023. (Photo by Daniel Boczarski/Getty Images for GLAAD)
Disagreement On World View
And that's where the two men part company.
Butker prominently kicked in both games. Beane prominently hosted "A Night Of Pride" celebration put on jointly by GLAAD and the NFL both years.
Butker spent part of his time lifting up his faith in God and Jesus Christ during those Super Bowl weeks.
"If I didn't have faith in God I don't think I'd be the father I am, the husband I am, the kicker I am," Butker said before Super Bowl LVIII last February. "That kind of sets a tone for everything else and everything falls under that. But that gives me the strength to go do everything I need to."
Beane, days before the game, helped lift up the NFL's embrace of GLAAD and its efforts. That work by the non-profit, founded in 1985, monitors media and recognizes media outlets that represent the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community (LGBTQ) "in a fair, accurate, and inclusive way," per the organization.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Harrison Butker looks up at the crowds during the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl LVIII Victory Parade on Feb 14, 2024. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
GLAAD Not Happy With Butker
So now Butker and Beane, with GLAAD close behind, are at odds.
Butker, you probably know by now, criticized the sort of pride exhibited during pride month compared to "true God-centered pride" in his commencement address at Bendictine College last Saturday.
Butker also told the audience at the Catholic liberal arts school that President Biden's pro-abortion stance is "delusional" given his Catholic faith.
Yes, he said more, and you can go directly to the full story and the full speech to catch up.
Anyway, there's been a tidal wave of criticism from some portions of the population and GLAAD joined that chorus on Thursday.
"Traditionally, commencement speeches are meant to celebrate and inspire graduates and their families," GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis, who goes by she/her pronouns, said in a statement. "Kansas City Chiefs player Harrison Butker’s commencement speech was not only a clear miss, it was inaccurate, ill-informed, and woefully out of step with Americans about Pride, LGBTQ people and women.
"Those with expansive platforms, especially athletes, should use their voices to uplift and expand understanding and acceptance in the world. Instead, Butker’s remarks undermine experiences not of his own and reveal him to be one who goes against his own team’s commitment to the Kansas City community, and the NFL’s standards for respect, inclusion, and diversity across the League."
LOS ANGELES - NFL Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer SVP Jonathan Beane speaks onstage during A Night of Pride with GLAAD and NFL on February 10, 2022. (Photo by Rich Polk/Getty Images for GLAAD)
NFL Committed To ‘Inclusion’
That statement, joined with one from Beane, is an example of the alliance GLAAD and the NFL obviously have. Beane's statement on Butker issued to People reads in part:
"His views are not those of the NFL as an organization. The NFL is steadfast in our commitment to inclusion, which only makes our league stronger."
And these two statements together paint a portrait of GLAAD, Ellis, Beane, the greater Kansas City community, the Chiefs and the NFL being against Harrison Butker.
Everyone agrees on this. Except I'm not sure about the NFL or the Chiefs.
Beane issued the statement that reads like he's speaking for the NFL. But when I reached out to the NFL on Thursday morning, asking if indeed Beane's statement was on behalf of the league, there was no response.
And when I asked if commissioner Roger Goodell was aware of and agreed with Beane's statement, there was no response.
So I'm not sure what we have here. Does the NFL agree with this statement or not? It would be pretty easy to confirm the statement represents the league.
Unless this is a league executive letting his allegiances put him over his skis?
The Chiefs, by the way, have no comment on the whole ordeal. That team routinely has coach Andy Reid be its primary spokesman and Reid will not address the issue, if at all, until he next speaks to reporters next week.
So why is everyone in the NFL outside of Beane lying low for now?
Perhaps because they want this saga to conclude. And perhaps because the so-called NFL statement has a major problem:
If it is correct to say the NFL values inclusion, then why does Beane's statement seem comfortable excluding Harrison Butker and the millions of Americans – including some who coach in, play in, and work for the NFL – who agree with him?
Butker Jersey Sales Soaring
Does inclusion not make any room for people with conservative values? For some people of many faiths, including Catholics, Jews, Muslims, and Christians, who believe homosexuality is a sin? For people of all stripes who disagree with President Biden on abortion?
We're talking about millions of Americans – probably tens of millions if one were to do an actual count – who share Butker's opinions.
Like them or not, accept their views or not, those people are not nothing. They have a voice.
The fact is Harrison Butker's jersey sales have exploded in the days since his commencement speech. He currently has the most popular jersey for men. He currently has the most popular jersey for women.
Both cost $129 on NFLShop.com.
How's that for equity and inclusion?