Kicking and Screaming: The Collected Rants of Ex-Vikings Punter Chris Kluwe

Bruce Kluckhohn-US PRESSWIRE

Chris Kluwe—punter, Twitter icon and outspoken advocate for LGBT rights—was cut by the Minnesota Vikings after eight seasons on Monday morning. The UCLA alum has never been afraid to use his NFL platform to speak his mind on topics ranging from same-sex marriage to the merits of Libertarianism. Did that contribute to his release? Who knows. Maybe. Probably. Vikings general manager Rick Spielman insists that Kluwe's activism wasn't a factor in the decision; football insiders believe otherwise. Whatever the case, if it was his outspokenness that got Kluwe cut from the Vikings, he certainly got his money's worth.

Oct. 21, 2010

Draws and tweets diagram on locker-room whiteboard mocking NFL’s training video on helmet-to-helmet hits.

Mar. 19, 2011

Draws and tweets two more whiteboard cartoons blasting NFL for lockout.

@chriswarcraft

@chriswarcraft

July 14, 2011

Scripts and produces Hitler "Downfall" parody lampooning the CBA and NFL lockout.

[youtube="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_opRmBPPBk"]

July 19, 2011

Labels Peyton Manning and Drew Brees as "douchebags" amid CBA negotiations.

https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/status/93372491627642880

July 24, 2012

Begins blogging for St. Paul Pioneer Press.

Sept. 22, 2011

Another whiteboard message on the NFL's warning against faking injuries.

@chriswarcraft

Aug. 25, 2012

Pens "Why Your Website Sucks" post for Deadspin.

Sept. 7, 2012

Pens angry letter for Deadspin railing against the "vitriolic hatred and bigotry" of Maryland state delegate Emmett C. Burns Jr., who had written Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti a letter urging him to surpress the expression of Baltimore linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo, who had spoken out in favor of a ballot initiative that would legalize gay marriage. The post generated 2.3 million views and introduces the phrase lustful cockmonster into the cultural lexicon.

Sept. 19, 2012

Comes correct in another Pioneer Press blog entry: "Every time you propagate the message that being gay is to be less than human ... you sweep away a bit more humanity from the world, drive one more kid to contemplating the cold razor's bite, or the yawning abyss of the overdose."

Sept. 25, 2012

Writes on Deadspin that Packers got screwed in famously botched Monday Night Football ending.

Sept. 28, 2012

Challenges state representative Mary Franson to a debate after she said gay marriage isn't "normal behavior," saying that "it is very hypocritical of her to ask for a return to traditional values, when traditional values say she should have been in the kitchen, and not in office.”

Oct. 1, 2012

Pens powerful rejoinder for Pioneer Press blog to Matt Birk's op-ed against gay marriage.

Oct. 7, 2012

Vanquishes Elder Titan in World of Warcraft.

https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/status/255102550414594050

Oct. 15, 2012

Chris Kluwe stars in video opposing Minnesota's proposed constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.

http://youtu.be/XgT8DOfD9OM

Oct. 17, 2012

Poses for OUT magazine in show of support for same-sex marriage.

OUT magazine

Oct. 18, 2012

Challenges Minnesota GOP to debate on gay marriage. Decides to argue against empty chair upon non-response.

Oct. 25, 2012

Cuts "Lustful Cockmonster" radio ad in support of gay marriage.

https://soundcloud.com/thinkpro/kluweradioad

Nov. 1, 2012

Says in profile with hometown alt-weekly: "My ideal world is one in which we don't need a government because people treat one another the way they want to be treated. ... But until we fix human nature, that's probably not going to happen."

Nov. 5, 2012

Resigns from longrunning Pioneer Press blog over editors' alleged anti-gay marriage bias.

Nov. 7, 2012

Pens article for Slate on legalization of gay marriage.

Nov. 14, 2012

Named Sexiest Man of 2012 by Salon.

Nov. 16, 2012

Eviscerates voters for shutting fellow punter Ray Guy out of Hall of Fame in post for Deadspin.

Dec. 12, 2012

Responds to league fine for wearing "Vote Ray Guy" over the 50th Anniversary Hall of Fame jersey patch in previous week's game.

https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/status/278890540387405825

Dec. 13, 2012

Tweets sarcastic response to criticism from his position coach, who had told Pioneer Press: "Those distractions are getting old for me."

https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/status/279393902543384576

https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/status/279394180982263808

Dec. 27, 2012

Discusses his stance as a Libertarian in Reason.com interview.

Jan. 8, 2013

Appears on The Colbert Report to discuss his advocacy for marriage equality.

Jan. 18, 2013

Signs book deal with Little, Brown for Beautifully Unique Sparkleponies, “a collection of uncensored personal essays on topics ranging from faith to government, from losing in professional athletics to human rights.”

Jan. 28, 2013

Trolls Roger Goodell during NFL commissioner's Ask Me Anything on Reddit (posting under username Loate).

Feb. 20, 2013

Joins The Nerdist podcast to discuss video games, tweeting during football games and nerd culture.

https://soundcloud.com/the-nerdist/chris-kluwe

Feb. 28, 2013

Files amicus curiae brief with U.S. Supreme Court (with Ayanbadejo) in support of cause that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional.

Mar. 1, 2013

Appears on Dan Patrick Show and says NFL needs to make sure teams don't ask about sexuality.

Mar. 8, 2013

Pens blistering op-ed for Business Insider condemning Electronic Arts' new SimCity game and follows up with further thoughts on Game Informer.

Mar. 31, 2013

Blasts intolerant NFL players in column for CNN.com: "Players -- those of you worried about a gay teammate checking out your ass in the shower, or hitting on you in the steam room, or bringing too much attention to the team -- I have four simple words for you: Grow the f*** up."

Apr. 17, 2013

Named grand marshal of Twin Cities PRIDE parade.

Apr. 28, 2013

Responds via Pro Football Talk after Vikings draft UCLA punter Jeff Locke in the fifth round, : “It’s a shame that in a league with players given multiple second chances after arrests, including felony arrests, that speaking out on human rights has a chance of getting you cut."

Apr. 29, 2013

Tweets support of Jason Collins.

https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/statuses/328903223161262083

May 6, 2013

Announces release from Vikings via Twitter.

https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/status/331434490129956865

https://twitter.com/ChrisWarcraft/status/331434893009625088