When you think of advocates for equality, the famously hateful Westboro Baptist Church isn’t the first organization that comes to mind.
Through a blog buddy email, I wasn’t surprised to learn that the church will be protesting this year’s Superbowl. In addition, they’ll be protesting the funeral of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno – who was fired amidst the university’s sexual abuse scandal.
The Westboro Baptist Church is best known for picketing the funerals of soldiers with their “God Hates Fags” signs and banners. The church’s handful of followers believe that God is expressing His disapproval of homosexuality by allowing American soldiers to be killed in Afghanistan.
I really don’t spend much time thinking, talking or writing about the Westboro Baptist Church because that is exactly what they want. They want us to use our precious time on this earth to elevate their cause through our attention.
But the truth is, I think the Westboro Baptist Church has unwittingly done more to help the gay rights movement than hurt it. Because of their offensive and extreme messaging, the Church has painted opponents of equality with a very broad and unappealing brush. They’ve put a very ugly face on what it means to be anti-gay. And rather than elicit support and sympathy for their cause, I suspect their outrageous protesting has had the opposite effect.
For the Westboro Baptist Church, protesting at high profile events has become part of the formula. Unfortunately for them, it’s a tired formula that is resulting in diminishing returns and increasing liabilities. The more they keep at it, the crazier they look, the more they alienate their cause and the deeper a hole they dig.
January 27, 2012 at 10:37 am
As a graphic designer, i cant get passed how ugly the signs are…
January 27, 2012 at 10:37 am
if only i knew how to spell ;/
January 27, 2012 at 10:42 am
It happens to the best of us Tristian!
January 30, 2012 at 9:23 pm
As a lover of the English language, I can’t get past your spelling
January 27, 2012 at 10:53 am
I can’t help but agree!
I’ve seen a fragment of an interview with the church leader and founder. He was asked about being a part of the most hated family on Earth, which he acknowledged very matter of factly.
I often wonder why they can’t divert their energy to a better cause. I feel for the children of these people who are made join in on the protests. How can these children truly know what it is they are protesting? I often wonder if it isn’t a form of abuse, a kind of mental sexual abuse.
I feel strongly that children should not be sexualised in anyway, shape or form. Having them participate in these protests is a clear sign that this is actually happening to them. But don’t accuse this “church” of doing so. I hear much of their funding comes from successful litergation against anyone who abuses, assaults or makes false claims about them. Thankfully they can’t identify me here.
I can only imagine what such negativity does to a person long term. What other people must think when they find out a person is a member of this “church”. I often wonder why the true Baptist movement hasn’t insisted, legally, that the name “Baptist” not be used by this “church”. I figure every other religious movement simply prefers not to engage with them. Perhaps we should so the same.
January 27, 2012 at 10:54 am
I made this exact same argument over dinner with a friend this week!
January 27, 2012 at 10:54 am
Davy, if you don’t mind me calling you that for short, I can often find your reasoning and logic to be completely lacking, even when I agree with your conclusions. This time however I can’t help feeling we are on the same page completely, and that this was a very enlightening post.
January 27, 2012 at 11:07 am
I actually have a tiny bit of respect for the woman most people associate with this Church. Although I couldn’t disagree more to what they say, I respect the fact that she’s standing up for everything she says, and has the strength to take all the hatred from all over the world.
I saw a video where she was talking and answering questions in a class, and when someone said he supported gays, but not that they should get married – her response was “You damn hypocrite!” – enough said.
But I do not support this churches view on society, religion or people in general. And I agree that they have helped the gay movement in a lot of ways.
January 28, 2012 at 2:32 am
@Erik:
Erick,
Have you always been a masochist?
If you want to fight hate with love,please go f.ck the b.tch.
February 1, 2012 at 1:46 am
Bill(Guillermo3), I often enjoy your comments but not this one.
Trust me when I say that I have reason enough never to want to be anywhere near Fred Phelps or any of his group. They’ve picketed at funerals of friends, spewed their hate TOWARD a friend on-air during a television appearance (many years ago) and have demonstrated outside of my church twice. At times, there has been nothing I would have liked more than to run the entire lot of them down with a moving vehicle, but…
The argument DW gives is valid and I respect Eirik for expressing his own opinion, as well. Nowhere in Eirik’s comment did he say anything to warrant the response given here. Why can’t we commend someone for having the authenticity and courage to stand up for their ideals, even if such (in our own opinion) are total b.llshit and prejudicial?
It’s a f.cking shame that so many within the gay community, the very group (of which I’m a member) that asks for tolerance and understanding, are quick to judge others just for standing on their own two feet and expressing a difference of opinion, as well.
(Of course, it’s possible – I imagine – that the above comment isn’t by the real “bill(Guillermo3)” but some f.cking imposter instead. I seem to recall you were having that problem before and I’ll be quite frank when I say that ANYONE who posts under another’s moniker in an attempt to attack and demean his or her reputation is a total as.shat so if this isn’t really you, all you need do is respond with “not me” and many of us will understand and dismiss the message altogether.)
Namaste and peace be with you,
Michael
February 1, 2012 at 5:49 am
There is another way the Phelpses help the gay movement. They are the preeminent defenders of the First Amendment–the freedom of speech, the freedom of assembly and freedom from government interference in religion. If the Supreme Court will protect those freedoms in the most extreme cases of hate speech, then it must protect those freedoms for everyone. For the gay rights movement, it means the government cannot censor any of our publications, public advocates or parades because some in the community may find them offensive. That’s really important.
January 27, 2012 at 11:24 am
After doing this for ten years or so (I can’t remember), the church remains miniscule. When I see them show up, I don’t feel hatred anymore than I feel hatred for a fly at a picnic. What I do feel is pity. Pity for how beleaguered they must feel. Pity that their hearts are so consumed by hatred.
What I sometimes do when I see them protesting, I count the number of protesters. I then send $10 per protester to my favorite pro-gay charity. I then send Westboro a thank-you card explaining what I did. I close by saying: “Next time, send more people.”
January 27, 2012 at 11:43 am
That’s awesome Vic!
January 27, 2012 at 12:35 pm
I love this.
Top Viv.
January 27, 2012 at 12:44 pm
The members of the Church are almost all inter related members of the same family. Several are Lawyers. I believe I read somewhere that peak membership runs in the 40 some members area.
They were in Seattle some years ago and I wandered over to watch them picket the ST Patricks church a bloke from my home. They did their 30-40 minute protest, piled into waiting vehicles and were off to the next church on their list. It’s a real sick group.
January 30, 2012 at 1:03 pm
I love what Lisa Lampanelli did!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/23/lisa-lampanelli-vs-westboro-baptist-church_n_865291.html
January 27, 2012 at 11:38 am
Thats the same I have been telling People for Years. The WBC is doing us a huge favour and they may not even notice it.
They actually manage to make homophobes and gays stay on the same side against them.
And just to point out, they are true to their Religion. You might not like it, but Christianity wasnt always this pacefistic. They are not pulling these Bible verses out of their behinds, they actually exist. Which makes other Christians look bad.
That is another way in which they help. It may just get some People thinking if they really want to follow a Religion if they arent going to follow it to the letter anyway.
January 27, 2012 at 12:20 pm
Totally agree. By reducing anti-gay activism to repulsive absurdity, they serve to nudge public opinion in a positive direction.
January 27, 2012 at 12:37 pm
I thought the idea of giving a contribution in the WBC name for every event they picket would be the greatest revenge. If everytime they appeared a donation was made and a thank you card sent to the church I have to feel like they would get a clue. I have been watching the news for their asinine protests and then sending money to the proper party from the WBC!
January 30, 2012 at 1:06 pm
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/23/lisa-lampanelli-vs-westboro-baptist-church_n_865291.html
January 27, 2012 at 12:51 pm
There is a belief (and I tend to share it) that WBC don’t actually believe anything that is on their signs. You will note that they are ALL lawyers. The belief is that their intent is only to motivate people to attack them so that they can sue them and make money.
Either way the best bet is to simply ignore them. I would like to stop seeing them make any kind of news too, it only furthers their cause, regardless of what it is.
January 27, 2012 at 1:47 pm
Preach it Bro!!!
January 27, 2012 at 4:54 pm
Completely agree. Makes me kind of appreciate their work for gay rights. Not that I”m inviting any of them over for dinner or anything…
January 27, 2012 at 5:04 pm
I agree with Davey! Those signs only make us stronger! Since I moved a block away from the church as just a wee twink, I always saw those signs. Over the years, I’ve come to realize that seeing those signs everyday only helps me. I think that they don’t know me, or my friends, so what do they know about us? Why would god create beautiful people just to bring them down? I do believe in a God, and their nonsense only motivates me further.
January 30, 2012 at 1:07 pm
I think people should make signs that are almost identical (use the fonts and colors).. but make them say “God Loves Fags”… and show two men kissing!
January 27, 2012 at 5:05 pm
My name OS Alex -_- silly phone.
January 27, 2012 at 5:06 pm
Oh my god… I give up with this phone.!
January 27, 2012 at 5:09 pm
I don’t think the Westboro group helps anybody, actually, gay or otherwise. This group is so bizarre and so off-the-chart, in terms of their hatred and bizarre reasoning, that I don’t think most people get beyond what a sick bunch of puppies they are. (And no disrespect meant here for actual sick puppies.)
Fire takes fuel to burn, so if everybody–and especially the news media–would simply ignore them, they would lose the fuel they so desperately crave. They are masters at getting attention. Ignore them.
January 27, 2012 at 7:18 pm
Oh I agree Davey! The minute you start disrespecting troops is the minute your cause loses all respect in this country. To paraphrase Smithers, “[Rev. Phelps] crossed over that line from everyday villainry to cartoonish super villainy.”
I think orgs such as Focus On The [Straight] Family do far more harm because their message is so insidiously wrapped up in what seems good: the promotion of the family. Its just that it has to be THEIR version of family, ie; straight.
No body listens to the Westboro Baptist Church.
January 27, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Not to be too much of a pessimist but never underestimate the stupidity of the human species. They are easily fooled.
January 27, 2012 at 11:02 pm
Maybe you ran out of material so you picked this. However, this institution is totally irrelivant to most folks on our planet. The few that notice consider them kooks,
January 28, 2012 at 2:40 am
@FAKE,Penn c.nt bill(Guillermo3):
I, the only real bill(Guillermo3),did not make the comment,however,I do agree with it totally:
Pretty good for a moron,FAKE,Penn c.nt bill(Guillermo3)!
January 28, 2012 at 3:11 am
To loosely quote Eminem: “Will the real bill(Guillermo3) please stand up”? (and the 2 of you stop taking pot shots at one another!!!)
Quite why one blog buddy would steal anothers pen name is beyond me.
January 29, 2012 at 1:11 pm
The phony Bill (Guillermo3) needs to use spellcheck.
January 28, 2012 at 3:22 am
You know, last I heard “Pride” was one of the 7 deadly sins!
I wouldn’t never be filled with so much “pride”, nor would I ever be so presumptious, as to assume to know what God thinks about anything.
Doesn’t “pride commeth before the fall”.
** (This is why I feel the term is not used in the “traditional sense” during “Gay Pride” events but why people view them view negatively)**
Yes I do know the difference, so please don’t go hating on me. There is good and bad “pride”!
Westboro exhibit an example of “traditional / (biblical)” BAD pride, which will eventually lead to their fall.
January 28, 2012 at 3:27 am
one to many “views” used. Please excuse and exclude the first and this sentence as:
**but why people may view them negatively.** –
“Should really check what I have written is correct before clicking post”. You’d think I’d know better by now. LOL.
January 28, 2012 at 3:37 am
@+J.:
You certainly seem to be busy today,night,whatever,+J. Anyway,I am the ONLY real bill(Guillermo3),and as it is 2:33am here,I’ll sit down,thank you.
What I can’t understand is why this particular FAKE bill(Guillermo3) has,unlike the many others,made a reasonable comment:’net is stranger than truth,I guess.
January 28, 2012 at 5:41 am
@ bill (Guillermo3) – “The real and only”: That’s a plus, I guess.
January 28, 2012 at 1:23 pm
@+J.:
Gawd-damn right it is,+J. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 28, 2012 at 11:48 pm
@ bill(Guillermo3) – Bonza!
January 28, 2012 at 6:59 pm
I saw an interview with some of the former members of the WBC. One is a son of Fred Phelps. He claims there is a very abusive element to this cult that includes physical and psycho-sexual abuse. He posits that his father may actually be a closeted gay man, which goes a long way to explaining the vitriol towards the gay community.
We all know that the most vehement and angry critics of same sex attractions are those who have them and have not integrated a healthy understanding of that attraction. It is the pathology of growing up secretly gay in the world of Baptist aggression towards gay people. Those of us who are from the South have seen it countless numbers of times.
January 28, 2012 at 11:51 pm
@ Clarke – Interesting? So his son isn’t part of the movement either?
January 29, 2012 at 2:25 am
@Clarke:
Amazing[and sad],isn’t it Clarke,how often rabidly anti-gay people are (usually very guilty,and/or self-hating) closeted gays?
Unfortunately,this “Levitican” prejudice is found not just among Baptists,or Southerners,or gays.I had the recent unpleasant experience of hearing my brother-in-law,a great guy,and a minister,who’s definitely neither Southern,nor gay tell me that the American Episcopal Church & the Church of England in Britain,are losing membership because of their congregations’ outraged disapproval of their church hierarchies’ sanctioning of the ordination of gay priests :A disaproval which he shares.
January 29, 2012 at 1:09 pm
I believe it was 60 Minutes that did an interview with Phelps’ daughter who has broken off all connection with her family over their hateful campaign against gays.
January 28, 2012 at 10:46 pm
Your totally right!
January 29, 2012 at 2:05 am
@+J.:
+J.,
What is “bonza”? Did you mean Bonzai[or Bonsai]? Bonzo[a Reagon fim:"Bedtime for Bonzo"]?
Similar to Gonzo? Hunh?
January 29, 2012 at 5:51 am
@ bill(Guillermo3) – I honestly don’t know where I got “Bonza” from. I wasn’t thinking about something else. I meant to impart that “all is good”!
January 29, 2012 at 1:49 pm
@+J.:
Mille grazie,+J. !!
January 30, 2012 at 3:20 am
“The church’s handful of followers believe that God is expressing His disapproval of homosexuality by allowing American soldiers to be killed in Afghanistan.”
What I find funny is that maybe, if there weren’t any more deaths of US soldiers, they’ll all of the sudden think that their “god” is ready to endorse homosexuality. XD hahahaha.
How could two things (“god” ‘s acceptance of homosexuality, and soldiers dying in Afghanistan) be SO unconnected/uncorrelated, and still be in these people’s minds a true connection, I have no idea.
January 30, 2012 at 3:26 am
@Andrew:
Nice Entity,their “god”,eh,Andrew?!
January 30, 2012 at 7:39 am
Also hurricanes, floods, firestorms, earthquakes, 9/11 and on and on. These kooks hold us responsible for every disaster visited on mankind. It’s an Old Testament world and their god is a wrathful god. Religion makes some people nuts.
January 30, 2012 at 8:05 am
You know, just the other day I was thinking “I wonder what Davey has to say about these guys” after reading article about them.
Lo and behold…this blog post of yours.
ESP much?
January 30, 2012 at 9:55 am
What a lovely handle.
January 30, 2012 at 11:04 am
i was thinking the same thing as well.Westboro-is so outrageous-in order to have sanity-just think the opposite.works for me.then i have to ask myself-where does Westboro get the money to organise and travel to Pennsylvania-to protest Joe Paterno funeral-then travel to Indianapolis for Superbowl.after all it takes time-money-travel to organise such endeavours.who funds Westboro?
January 30, 2012 at 3:45 pm
To add insult to injury, because Westboro Baptist is a church, their revenue stream from tithes and contributions is tax-exempt. These people remind me of those twisted neo-Nazi skinheads except that they have a different hero.
January 31, 2012 at 7:39 am
@ Joel J – I’d have sad, “big tabacco companies”. Am I a touch to cyncial?
January 31, 2012 at 10:41 am
@+J Sorry, I don’t see the connection you are alluding to.
January 31, 2012 at 11:06 am
@ Joel J – The post above was question where their funding comes from. I was attempting humour. Me thinks you Americans think too laterally.
Christopher – extract
“i have to ask myself-where does Westboro get the money to organise and travel to Pennsylvannia”
My comment and joke.
I’d have sad, “big tabacco companies”. Am I a touch to cyncial?
You follow now Joel J?
January 31, 2012 at 11:02 pm
@+J Sorry, I still don’t get it, laterally or vertically.
February 1, 2012 at 12:59 am
@ Joel J.
There was a query as to where Westboro were getting the money to travel and protest, etc.
I was suggesting, in jest, that Westboro funding comes from tabacco companies (aka: cigarette manfacturers).
Humour possibly lost now…
February 1, 2012 at 5:21 am
@+J The joke makes no sense because no tobacco company could afford the negative p.r. of being associated with Fred Phelps. Ever since Big Tobacco lost the big lawsuit and had to pay billions to the states, they have been keeping a low profile. The big contributor to nefarious causes these days is Big Oil. They use many of the same strategies and tactics in denying global warming that Big Tobacco used in denying the link between smoking and lung cancer. They also fund a lot of right wing think tanks that advocate de-regulation of oil and continuance of the big tax subsidies to Big Oil. There’s your bogeyman if you’re looking for one.
January 30, 2012 at 1:08 pm
Here’s this family in a nutshell (pun intended):
1 – They have severe mental disorders (Narcissistic Personality Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder). They hurt people and show no remorse for the victims. They are the most dangerous people to deal with because they have a severed conscience.
2 – The LOVE to be hated. It’s what gets them up in the morning. It’s what gives them energy. Anger is the only emotion they know. Watch the video where people get angry and yell at them. They just smile and love it. The take pride in being the most hated family in America.
3 – They love the attention. They don’t really care about the issues. They are attention junkies. The entire family is set up to compete for their Daddy’s attention. And they are trained to do anything to get it.
4 – They are beyond logic to ever change. When you study people with these severe mental disorders, they probably won’t ever change. No amount of reasoning or screaming will give them an ounce of empathy.
5 – They are so psychologically damaged that if they gave up hating, there would be nothing left of them.
6 – Evil is very real in this world. They are living proof of it.
January 30, 2012 at 10:52 pm
@StevenInWiltonManors:
Great analysis,StevenI.W.M.!!
January 30, 2012 at 11:28 pm
Everyone treats this church as though it’s some huge organization, and its protests emblematic of a huge movement of hatred and bigotry overtaking the US.
In reality, the church has about 40 people, apparently with nothing better to do than protest and get themselves in the papers.
Forty people is meaningless. America has 380 million people. It’s not hard to find an area of the US with forty people who believe in something crazy, given just how big the US is.
The only reason why everyone makes such a big deal about them is that their pastor is apparently a genius at getting media attention.
When people stop reporting on them, stop talking about them, and stop blogging about them, they’ll evaporate.
January 31, 2012 at 12:30 am
@DGB:
One can only hope,DGB! After watching the Huffington post lampoon,I saw a couple of fox news interviews with a member of the family:VERY SICK ___You have to wonder whether incest is involved:
Manson Family Values!!
January 31, 2012 at 7:52 am
Principal members of this “church” tried to come here to Australia but where denied access by our government (and that action was taken pretty much regardless of the public outcry against their visit).
Ps: They made some very upsetting remarks regarding the “black saturday” bush fires that occured in south eastern Australia in 2009. (They blamed our tolerance of “the gays” for the fires and loss of lives, etc.).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Saturday_bushfires
February 1, 2012 at 2:35 am
@Michael M:
For some reason,Michael,I just got notice of your response to my comment,both FAAAAaaaaRRrrr above.Just as well,because I’ve been meaning to write,and haven’t_BUT:It’s 1:16 am,and so I’ll keep it short.I wasn’t attacking Erick[or whatever his name is],just being extremely sarcastic,a bad habit of mine,which I rather like.After I wrote that[a day or two,I think],I hit the link another blog buddy posted to the Huffington Post video of a comedienne lampooning Westboro Baptist_watched that on youtube,which led to seeing/watching Y.t.’s suggestions,2 lengthy fox interviews with the woman.Amazing! Disgusting! Frightening! She’s totally nuts_reminded me of a Klan Rally I attended my first year of college [got "arrested" by Klan security guards,BTW] :A crowd of drunks listening to Hitleresque racist speeches,sooting plenty of racist slurs,all while singing hymns.
Namaste back at you:Have you been to India? I have,the most simultaneously wonderful & maddening trip[6 weeks] I’ve ever made.
bill(Guillermo3)
February 12, 2012 at 5:41 pm
Nice way to look at it, Davey!
Westboro is a funny group. I mean, they must laugh at themselves, how can you not? Picket signs? Dear God, is it the 60s? I want I-Pads with rainbow-strobe backgrounds!
February 15, 2012 at 12:43 am
THEY ACTUALLY RAISED MONEY~! http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/04/late-show-lisa-lampanelli-westboro-baptist-twitter-video_n_1182752.html
February 17, 2012 at 2:17 pm
Hate does more harm to the hater than the hatee.