Growing up in a Christian Household, I Knew Hundreds of Men Just Like Harrison Butker

His speech may seem shocking, but many Christian women will have heard it all before

He looks like every dude I went to church with. Image from Wikimedia Commons

Footballer Harrison Butker’s recent anti-women / abortion / IVF / LGTBQ+ commencement speech at Benedictine College didn’t shock me.

Or at least, it did until I understood he is a devout Christian and Benedictine College is a conservative Catholic establishment. Then it all sounded very familiar.

Having watched and read the entirety of his speech there is nothing — and I mean nothing — that I’ve not heard before. Butker is a living, breathing embodiment of the men I knew growing up in a fundamentalist Christian household.

And of the values I grew up being told were normal.

Butker’s speech is hard to watch because he embodies everything I have spent my entire adult life distancing myself from. When you live through this sort of Christianity, speeches like his are triggering.

Suddenly you’re 15 again listening to your pastor talk about the fiery depths of hell reserved for “the gays” whilst your closeted gay friend sits beside you.

How ar