Former Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler was scheduled to speak at a Wisconsin church, but his appearance was canceled because he congratulated NBA player Jason Collins, who came out this week and declared he was gay.
Shortly after sending congratulations to Collins on Twitter, Butler got a call from officials at a church where he was scheduled to give an anti-bullying presentation this summer, he told the Journal Sentinel on Wednesday.
Butler thought the call was to discuss event details. He said that he speaks to several churches every year, and that sponsors usually help the church raise money to cover his fee – in this case $8,500 – and in turn, donations are collected during the event to benefit the church.
Instead, Butler was told by church officials that they would cancel the presentation unless he removed the tweet, apologized and asked God’s forgiveness.
“This is what bothers me the most. They said, ‘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, and I said I’m not doing that,” Butler said Wednesday.
“Every gay and lesbian person will say ‘You know, LeRoy doesn’t speak up for the weak or the silenced. He doesn’t stand for anything as a man and he did it for money.’ Why would you ask me to reduce my integrity like that?” he continued.
He was so bothered by the exchange that he took to Twitter on Tuesday night to discuss it, where it was noticed by the National Football Post, which first reported the story.
Although Butler confirmed the church is in Wisconsin, he declined to share its name or approximate location. He said he didn’t think his tweet to Collins was religious or political.
“This is a man’s personal story. I’ve always been on the record saying if there was a gay person in the Packer locker room, I would have played with them. All I care about is if you can run and jump, and can you win Super Bowls,” Butler said.
Still, he said he wasn’t too surprised that such a statement got a reaction.
“I was surprised it was me, because that’s why I moved to this state, I want to be a role model for all kids, I don’t say which ones, not just straight kids. I don’t judge them,'” he said.
He said he pointed out to the church’s pastor that the church’s attempt to force him into something was an example of bullying.
“This is a form of bullying, what you’re doing. You’re trying to get me to do something I don’t want to do,” Butler said. “He disagreed, and I said, ‘We agree to disagree’ and he said ‘No, I’m right and you’re wrong.’ ”
The church has since tried to reach Butler to apologize. Butler said that he would accept the apology, if offered, but that he will never work with the church again.
according to jsonline.com
