Fred Phelps is Dead. Our Thoughts.

It was September of 1999 when our little site took off - namely because an anonymous benefactor redirected godhatesfags.com to our URL - godlovesfags.com - and we figured we should do something positive with the site.

Times have changed a lot - marriage is legal in several states and seems to be on a trajectory to be broadly legal across the U.S. in a matter of years. Acceptance of gay and lesbians in general is at an all time high, though there is still work to be done.

One thing that hasn't changed is the message from the Phelps clan. Despite losing a significant lawsuit in 2007 (the last post on this blog) they have continued to protest and preach hate.

Inevitably, with the news this morning of the death of Fred Phelps, Sr. we've had many ask us what we think of his death. And honestly, the answer is we haven't really thought about it.

Phelps was the founder of Westboro Baptist Chuch, but recently became just a figurehead - and one who became irrelevant to the church leadership, so much so they recently threw him out.

We still believe the Fred Phelps was a misguided man. One who had a strong belief in what God wanted him to do. A belief that is in direct contradiction to the loving, kind God we feel in our own lives.

His passing leaves us neither pleased (as some would assume) nor displeased. It's not our place to judge him or his actions.

Some loved the man. Some hated the man. We simply felt it was our place to offer a counter-balance to the hate the church he founded preached. His passing doesn't change that. And as such, leaves us neutral.

Westboro Baptist Church will go on. They've proven they can do that without him.

Fred Phelps, by his own belief, has now come face to face with his creator to be judged for the man he was.

And we'll leave it at that.

A new era?

So it's about time. Westboro Baptist LOST a court case and was fined $10.9 million dollars for one of their protests. Is it enough to shut them down? Will they appeal? Here's info from Queerty where I heard it today.

Despite being in throes of a multi-million dollar guilty verdict for picketing a dead soldier’s funeral (they were found guilty yesterday), about ten Westboro Baptist Church members spread their hate at the Matthew Shepard Awards in Los Angeles Saturday. Those zealots sure are tenacious!
According to one eye witness account, no one really gave a shit about the tacky picketing: “No one paid much attention other than a few homeless people”.
Meanwhile, Fred Phelps and his spawn Shirley plan to appeal yesterday’s ruling,, which left them with a $10.9 million bill. In this horror of a pdf press release, they write,
Not only did you fail to stop our preaching, but our message has gone forth to the entire world on this very day, because of your folly, like never before! Thank God for the $10.9 million verdict.

Interesting that the Phelps clan is thankful for the ruling - and for the publicity. Sick.

Scary: Fred Phelps on Fred Thompson

The folks over at Westboro Baptist Church have posted a really freaky (and very frightening if true) note to Republican presidential candidate Fred Thompson.

The information (always posted as a PDF) on their site is below - it essentially calls out that Fred Thompson simply ISN'T homophobic enough these days - and Fred Phelps and clan long for the days when they saw eye-to-eye - and Fred Thompson helped them win a case in Topeka.

It's so bizarre, but doesn't seem implausible to me. It's entirely possible that Mr. TV Candidate at one point had contact with, and perhaps shared some beliefs with the Phelps clan.

In fairness though, Fred Thompson's people have vehemently denied any connection. Then again, it's politics. What would you say to get a nomination or win an election?

Here's the offending statement:

New Book from Alex Sanchez: The God Box

There's a new book from Alex Sanchez about a high school kid coming to terms with his belief in God and his homosexuality. From Amazon.com:

The God Box

How could I choose betwen my sexuality and my spirituality, two of the most important parts that made me whole?

High school senior Paul has dated Angie since middle school, and they're good together. They have a lot of the same interests, like singing in
their church choir and being active in Bible club. But when Manuel transfers to their school, Paul has to rethink his life. Manuel is the
first openly gay teen anyone in their small town has ever met, and yet
he says he's also a committed Christian. Talking to Manuel makes Paul
reconsider thoughts he has kept hidden, and listening to Manuel's
interpretation of Biblical passages on homosexuality causes Paul to
reevaluate everything he believed. Manuel's outspokenness triggers
dramatic consequences at school, culminating in a terrifying situation
that leads Paul to take a stand.

Lambda Literary Award-winning author Alex Sanchez tackles a subject
ripped from the headlines in this exciting and thought-provoking
exploration of what it means to be both religious and gay.

Click the image or title to purchase the book from Amazon.com.

We have had visits in the last 2 weeks (since we started tracking geographically) from almost all 50 states.


We're still missing: West Virginia, New Hampshire, Nebraska & Hawaii. Hopefully we'll get visitors from those states in the near future. I'll post the world map when I'm back from vacation.

Westboro Baptist Upcoming Protests

As always, presenting this update so you can be informed.

Saturday 8/18/07 - 9:45 am
Memorial for Staff Sgt. Jacob Thompson
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church
632 S. Broadway, Mankato MN

Saturday, 8/18/07 - 1:15 pm
Memorial for Army Maj. Thomas Bostick Jr.
Llano Junior High School, 400 Highway 71 E, Llano TX

Monday, 9/3/07 - Noon
City Hall of Treviso, Italy
No reason given yet.

God hates Ireland? What?

The whack jobs over at the Westboro Baptist Church have now decided that God Hates Ireland via a new website - which is exactly that phrase as a url. They, of course, call out their reasoning:

Sun., July 22, ‘07: God Hates Ireland – Land of the Sodomite Damned.

We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices (2 Cor. 2:11). “Then said they, Come, and let us devise devices – (contrivances, plots) – against Jeremiah.” Jer. 18:18. It begins to look like the fags and fag-enablers of the Literary & Historical Society of the University College Dublin have devised devices against me – phrased another way – they have contrived a plot – or conspiracy – to lure me to Dublin, Ireland, to speak at their 153rd Session on the subject of “Gay Adoption” – and then to arrest me for the crime of violating their law entitled, The Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act. (See WBC's response to their invitation). That Act is a draconian, antichristic cup of Satan’s slimy vomit straight from the maw of Hell. They know exactly what I will say on the subject of Gay Adoption. And they know that what I will say from the Bible about sodomites will land me in an Irish jail for two and maybe 10 years. “For they speak not peace; but they devise deceitful matters against them that are quiet in the land.” Psa. 35:20. It looks like they’ve taken counsel together against me and against the Lord, saying, Let us break their bands – (Bible doctrines about sodomites going to Hell) – asunder, and cast away their cords – (Bible doctrines about Sin, Predestination, and Reprobation) – from us. Psa. 2:2,3

Ok. So as I read that, I'm a little confused. Two or 3 small words require a translation, a'la Phelps, on how it relates to faggotry. There's also something in there about an invite to a gay adoption debate, and an unclear message on why dear old Fred is pissed about it.

These people confuse me to death. By the way, they also seem to have "proof" that God hates Sweden and Canada - in addition to the good old U.S. of A.

Please. Someone give these people a reality check. I guess it's not a good day to be a gay Irish-American (which I happen to be, actually).

At least he's consistent...

Caught this one over at Bent Blog. I believe it was alst posted over at Queerty. Both great blogs for very different reasons :) Enjoy. Or weep a little. Not sure which.