The nation’s largest LGBT advocacy organization, GLAAD, issued a fact check of Harrison Butker’s commencement speech at a private Catholic college, criticizing his remarks as “erroneous and dangerous.” GLAAD’s CEO, Sarah Kate Ellis, stated that Butker’s speech was inaccurate, ill-informed, and out of step with Americans regarding Pride, LGBTQ people, and women. During his address at Benedictine College, Butker encouraged women to embrace their vocations such as motherhood and criticized what he referred to as “deadly sin sort of Pride” in comparison to God-centered pride.
GLAAD fact-checked Butker’s claims attributing the COVID-19 pandemic to “bad policies and poor leadership,” as well as his allegations regarding abortion, IVF, surrogacy, and euthanasia. The organization pointed out that Butker failed to mention former President Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic and the restriction of access to healthcare decisions by extremist legislators and Supreme Court justices. Butker’s speech focused on urging graduates to be “authentically and unapologetically Catholic” and adhere to traditional values, which GLAAD criticized as being at odds with the papal authority of Pope Francis.
A key point of Butker’s speech that garnered attention was his address to women, where he stated that they have been subject to “diabolical lies” and that their excitement lies in marriage and children. He emphasized the importance of traditional gender roles and vocations, pointing to his wife as an example of finding fulfillment through marriage and motherhood. Butker also stressed the importance of being married men and women, linking his ability to speak boldly to his vocation as a husband and father.
While Butker framed his speech around traditional Catholic values, GLAAD fact-checked his assertions and criticized his remarks for perpetuating toxic gender stereotypes and outdated attitudes towards women and LGBTQ individuals. The organization highlighted the progress made by American Catholics in supporting marriage for same-sex couples and Pope Francis’s efforts to welcome LGBTQ individuals into the church. Despite the backlash and scrutiny from both traditional media outlets and social media, Butker’s speech resonated with some religious groups who defended his faith-based message.
In conclusion, GLAAD’s fact check of Harrison Butker’s commencement speech at Benedictine College highlighted the divergence between his remarks and the inclusive values championed by Pope Francis and many American Catholics. While Butker encouraged graduates to adhere to traditional values and vocations, his comments drew criticism for reinforcing harmful stereotypes and neglecting key aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic and healthcare policy. The response to Butker’s speech underscores ongoing debates within society regarding gender roles, LGBTQ rights, and the intersection of faith and public discourse. Despite the controversy surrounding his address, Butker’s message resonated with some religious groups and individuals who viewed it as a reaffirmation of faith-based values.
