Gay Activists to Use Protests of Arizona Victim’s Funeral as Anti-Violence Fundraiser
Jude Stevens, jaysays.com author, converses with WBC in San Antonio, Texas
The Westboro Baptist Church (“WBC”), under the guidance of the Reverend Fred Phelps, has dedicated substantial time and resources in making the United States a living hell. Not only has the church spread hate-filled messages against the LGBTQ community to the masses, they have also attacked the United States as a whole because of its tolerance for LGBT people and failure to eradicate homosexuality.
Over the past several years, the WBC has gained notoriety for pickets of soldiers’ funerals. Now, in an effort to spread more hate and support violent action against Americans, the WBC has announced their intention to picket the funerals of those murdered in Saturday’s shooting at the Safeway in Tucson, Arizona.
LGBTQ people have followed the workings of the WBC closely, often finding unique ways to counter their pro-hate message. It’s no surprise that the LGBT advocacy group, Progressive Approach, has stepped up to the plate. The organization will be hosting a “Phelps-A-Thon” to counter-protest the WBC picket. The purpose of the “Phelps-A-Thon” is to raise many for the Anti-Violence Project of Southern Arizona, thereby helping a cause contrary to the message of the WBC. The organizers will be collecting pledges online for every minute WBC pickets the funeral.
Director of Phelps-A-Thon.com, Chris Mason, had this to say:
I believe everyone has the right to free speech, but protesting these funerals is beyond wrong, it is disgusting. A lot of people are angry with this and have emailed, asking us to do something. We feel this is an appropriate response to such hatred; while the Westboro Baptist Church is celebrating violence, they will also be raising funds to fight it.
We send our best wishes and support to the organizers. May peace always triumph.