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In the Spirit: Beloved Packer LeRoy Butler lands amid ugliness of culture wars
http://host.madison.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/religion/article_d3ec8fcf-7fae-5d71-928c-80db584cf8f2.htmlButler, who is scheduled to speak in Madison later this month, has become an unlikely lightning rod in the culture wars after tweeting congratulations in late April to Jason Collins, the first active NBA player to come out as gay. Almost immediately, Butler sent out another tweet announcing a Wisconsin church had just dropped an anti-bullying speech he was scheduled to give there.
That part of the story — Butler getting dumped by a church for his support of gays — went national. Butler soon found himself pursued by every major news outlet in the country. The visibility turned him into a punching bag for those opposed to homosexuality.
“I’m getting gay-bashed and I’m not even gay,” Butler, 44, said in an interview. “I didn’t know that so many people hated gay people. I knew they didn’t approve of the lifestyle, but to hate them?” Butler said he’s still getting 10 to 15 hate-filled messages a day. “The f-word, the n-word, you name it, and all I did was congratulate a young man for coming out,” Butler said.
...
Butler, who said he doesn’t regret his support of Collins, seems a little dazed by what’s happened to him, referring to himself as “just a naive football player.” While he’s not unaccustomed to the spotlight — he invented the “Lambeau Leap” touchdown celebration and was selected four times for the Pro Bowl — this is different, he said. “Look what I’m going through as a straight guy,” he said. “No wonder a 16-year-old kid doesn’t come out.”
...
When he speaks at a church, it’s with the specific intent of helping the congregation raise money for whatever projects it’s pursuing, he said. His speaking fee at churches goes toward his charitable endeavors, including a foundation he started to help women with breast cancer. He’s also trying to fund an anti-bullying documentary. He termed his agreement with St. Dunstan’s more of a partnership than a contract and said he won’t hold the church to the $8,500 fee if fundraising falls short.
That part of the story — Butler getting dumped by a church for his support of gays — went national. Butler soon found himself pursued by every major news outlet in the country. The visibility turned him into a punching bag for those opposed to homosexuality.
“I’m getting gay-bashed and I’m not even gay,” Butler, 44, said in an interview. “I didn’t know that so many people hated gay people. I knew they didn’t approve of the lifestyle, but to hate them?” Butler said he’s still getting 10 to 15 hate-filled messages a day. “The f-word, the n-word, you name it, and all I did was congratulate a young man for coming out,” Butler said.
...
Butler, who said he doesn’t regret his support of Collins, seems a little dazed by what’s happened to him, referring to himself as “just a naive football player.” While he’s not unaccustomed to the spotlight — he invented the “Lambeau Leap” touchdown celebration and was selected four times for the Pro Bowl — this is different, he said. “Look what I’m going through as a straight guy,” he said. “No wonder a 16-year-old kid doesn’t come out.”
...
When he speaks at a church, it’s with the specific intent of helping the congregation raise money for whatever projects it’s pursuing, he said. His speaking fee at churches goes toward his charitable endeavors, including a foundation he started to help women with breast cancer. He’s also trying to fund an anti-bullying documentary. He termed his agreement with St. Dunstan’s more of a partnership than a contract and said he won’t hold the church to the $8,500 fee if fundraising falls short.
9 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
he's a great guy 
time for us to get active and let him know those hate-filled homophobes are not Christians and they are NOT the majority
