Voices
about this group that also is known
as the “God Hates Fags church.” I
listened to snippets from its founder, Fred Phelps, who spoke into
cameras seemingly possessed by a
demon of hate. I thought them kind
of silly. Mean, vicious, and devoid
of Christian charity, but also silly,
and kind of camp. I’ve been waiting
for Westboro Baptist Church: The
Musical for a while now.
But as time has gone on I have to
admit that I also appreciate what
they are doing for the gay rights
movement and how their very existence offers the most convincing
testimony for progressive, non-literal, rational, pluralistic and compassionate religious expressions.
You see, whether the anti-gay
movement and the biblical literalists of our country like it or not,
Westboro Baptist Church has become their most visible and vocal
mouthpiece. With their “God Hates
Fags” signs and slogans they are
saying what other, more “respectable” Christians are implying in
more subtle language.
This small church of no more
than 40 people has created a vivid
example of the logical conclusion
of self-described “Bible-believing
Christians” — they just haven’t
started stoning adulterers or sea-
PAUL BRANDEIS
RAUSHENBUSH
HUFFINGTON
01.20.13
food lovers. When Mike Huckabee
and Bryan Fischer blame the Newton shooting on banning school
prayer, they place themselves along
the continuum with Westboro.
The problem for literalists and
homophobes everywhere is that everyone really, really hates the Westboro Baptist Church.
I guess the change came when
Fred Phelps’ gang
branched out from
only protesting gay
I was
things to things like
horrified by
military funerals and
this church’s
the Newtown killings
message,
that are not identiwhich was
fied with anything
not new, and
gay but are happenimpressed by
ing in a country that
its methods,
is beginning to supwhich were.”
port gay rights.
Now motorcycle
groups, burly college jocks, and
really everyone else is eager to
show up and facedown the hateful church, just like the first young
angels in The Laramie Project. The
country has taken a stand, and it is
against this kind of religious hate.
It has taken a band of anti-gay
zealots to bring us together, and in
this age of deep political, religious
and social division, we can
all thank them for that.