God Hates Fags (Apparently)

Feature, By Christian Taylor, 16th August, 2007

This month on Same Same we’re lifting the lid on homophobia, and when it comes to that topic, few have taken it as seriously or as far as the Westboro Baptist Church. Because of their extreme views and methods, this hateful Kansas based bunch have become one of the most notorious and controversial hate groups around, and the Phelps family – who are one of the two main families who lead the charge – are often called the most hated family in America. It’s not hard to see why.

This group don’t just consistently cross over the boundaries of good taste, decency and humanity – they completely reside there. They manage the website GodHatesFags.com, they picket at military funerals, gay pride gatherings, and high-profile political gatherings, they slander, they infuriate, and they stir the pot with their memorable slogans, like “God Hates You”, “Thank God For 9/11”, “Thank God For AIDS” and my personal favourite, “Fags Are Worthy Of Death.”

When challenged about their methods they often hide behind the First Amendment like most Americans, and as such even President Bush had to step in and sign the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act to legally stop them protesting at military funerals.

Meet Reverend Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr. He’s the pastor of Westboro and is also a disbarred lawyer and founder of the Phelps Chartered law firm. He’s built his church on anti-homosexual ideology. Apparently us fags and dykes are to blame for just about everything that’s currently wrong with the world. According to him and his followers, anything bad that happens on this earth comes directly from god as punishments, as messages, as anger towards homosexuals, and the people who support them, who they refer to as the ‘fag enablers’. Think 9/11. Think AIDS. Even Hurricane Katrina, bridge collapses, mining disasters, gay bashings, murders and violent political regimes.

“For nearly 4,000 years… sodomites have been called faggots, contracted to fags. It is an elegant metaphor,” says Phelps. “Faggots in nature are sticks of wood that burn quick, hot and long, and are hence used to fuel the fires of nature.” According to Phelps our generation has elevated homosexuality to a place of acceptance, and that is our downfall. “Etymology, history, and Scripture all endorse and sanctify the usage of faggot or fag to refer to sodomites, because the sodomites ignite the fires of divine wrath, promised by God Himself to destroy any society that elevates homosexuality to a position of wide acceptance and respect.”

Phelps’ church has 71 confirmed members and 60 of these are related to Phelps through blood or marriage. Phelps doesn’t allow members to marry outside of the church, so you can imagine how inbred this has rendered their little clan. At least two marriages have happened between the two main families involved – the Phelps and the Hockenbargers – and some members have married the brothers or sisters of their parents. Still, inspite of this, they believe that the blood is on our hands, and that through their preaching to this crooked and perverse generation, some will be condemned and some will be saved.

However others, even Phelps’ children, tell a very different story. They say that Phelps is an absolute pretender, more fueled and addicted to power and hatred than anything religious. Four of Phelps’ thirteen children have left the church and according to two of them – Mark and Nate – the church is in fact a well planned cult, where Phelps is in complete control, ruling over the members’ lives with an iron fist, enslaving them for his own gratification, maintaining his belief that he’s the only righteous man on earth.

The most infuriating thing about these people is not only that they genuinely believe in what they’re doing, they’re also expert button pushers. They piggyback on the sensitive issues in our society and play devil’s advocate, like parasites they exploit them for maximum impact. And it works.

Take the murder of young gay man Matthew Shepard for instance. On October 7, 1998 two men lead Matthew to a remote area east of Laramie where they tied him to a split-rail fence, beat him and left him to die in the cold of the night. Almost 18 hours later he was found by a cyclist who initially mistook him for a scarecrow. Matthew died days later in hospital, his entire family by his side. It attracted worldwide media attention and spawned the play The Laramie Project, which has since had productions all around the world.

Westboro have made it their mission to try and picket out the front of every production of this play. It’s their way of rubbing salt into the wounds. “The Laramie Project is a tawdry bit of banal fag melodrama – sordid, cheap, unaffecting, drearily predictable,” sneers Phelps, “without the least artistic or literary merit or redeeming social value. Indeed, its only purpose is to promote sinful, soul-damning sodomy by playing on the sick, maudlin emotions of doomed, godless America and thereby to recruit ill-bred teenagers to lives of sin, shame, disease, death and hell.”

In addition to this, Westboro’s website has a counter declaring how many days Matthew Shepard has been burning in hell for. They also want to erect a public monument to commemorate Matthew Shepard’s entry into hell.

It’s pretty vicious stuff. Westboro’s response?

“Deal with it! All else is trivial and unimportant. All the fag caterwauling, candlelight vigils and court orders can’t buy these perverts one drop of water to cool their tongues.”

It goes to show how fixated a group can become on fighting such perceived wars. All else has been pushed aside for this bunch – emotions, ties to humanity. Homophobia has them in their grip and it is not letting go.

Fundamentally these people are never going to be convinced that what they’re doing is wrong. They’re looking for a reaction. They’re using the most negative energy to stir the pot. It would seem the best way to truly fight back is to simply let such vitriol wash over you.

They think they’ve found the answer. They haven’t.

Watch Shirley Phelps-Roper defend Westboro’s funeral picketing on Fox News.

Watch the boys from The Chaser flirt with members of Westboro.

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Comments

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meezon04

said ages ago

It amazes me how I'm still a gay christian when there are
groups out in the world like this one. And to put shirts like
that on little children who wouldn't even understand what it's
about?! I'll be laughing when I'm in heaven watching them burn

rheiner

said ages ago

Hell hath no fury like a religious nutcase who can't deal with
his own desire.

rheiner

said ages ago

And I love that their value system is "gays = bad, incest = fun
for the whole family". Where do I sign up?

danny corvini

said ages ago

Exactly. The more we enjoy our lives and live successfully, the
more they live hell on earth.

pinkyboisyd

said ages ago

Anyone who believes in Hell deserves to go there... what a sad
existence... they should be teaching their kids about
compassion not hate... it will be hard enough for them to fit
in being retarded as it is...

jimjazz

said ages ago

great article Christian...as an athiest i find the whole tawdry
situation symptomatic of human obsession with deities. your
spiritual greatness comes from within. one day, perhaps, we
might awake from out slumber. but, i doubt it.

drewboi-78

said ages ago

I have been following the activities of this supposed church
for many years. When he first appeared on the Riki Lake show
around 12-13 years ago all I would become extremely angry but
realise that this is probably what he wants.

drewboi-78

said ages ago

No one would carry on like that if they didnt want such
notoriety. His self hatred inciting ramblings do present a
concern for those who are a little uncomfortable with their
sexuality.

drewboi-78

said ages ago

When time magazine named him in the worlds Most Interesting
People it becomes clear that he will be a psychological case
for the ages.. His nonsensical online sermons do become pure
hilarity when you realise how much he has lost touch with
reality.

drewboi-78

said ages ago

Also quite amusing is that Topeka Kansas has the postcode
666-12. Hehahehe

shaynesydney

said ages ago

Gawd All-fucking Mighty! Why does Phelps sound like someone
suffering penis envy? Surely the high point in his career was
when they actually picketted the funeral of Matthew Shepard.

FlipX

said ages ago

Not quite as sinister as Scientology, but these guys are
definitely more aggravating. The sad things is, the more you
argue with people like these, the more convinced they are that
they are indeed the righteous underdogs.

robbie

said ages ago

Flipx - not quite as sinister as Scientology? How's that?

drmoreau

said ages ago

WBC are hillarious... It's funny when people will fight so hard
for an ideology which is utterly ridiculous.

cheyne67

said ages ago

These people are fucked. I got a doco on them that is just
amazing. I thought they'd be rednecks but they are very well
educated - and rich. The Laramie Project is an brilliant movie
if you can get hold of it

blueterrace

said ages ago

These guys are the pointy end of the stick, but there a lot of
Christian sects hold homophobic views, maybe most. Although
these days they usually prefer to sneer at our relationships
and turn us into second class citizens rather then burn us.

Thatguy

said ages ago

Can god possibly be bothered about who puts which bits in other
peoples bits?

shaynesydney

said ages ago

well if you were going to invent an imaginary friend, wouldn't
you want to make him a nice one?

Christian Taylor

said ages ago

imaginary friend - i know. that's so true. these people cower
in fear over this fire and brimstone delusion. funnily enough,
i am thoroughly transfixed by these people. i could watch them
all day. it doesn't offend me - i am endlessly fascinated.

doodle_chaser

said ages ago

This nearly made me cry in desperation.

xnerox

said ages ago

what i think the real issue here is the fact that all these
people can blindly follow one person in complete devotion while
attempting to destroy 10% of the worlds populations right to
life, i guess incestuous reproduction really will make u
retarded

cheyne67

said ages ago

Christain - do you wanna have a look see at the doco I got on
them?

shaynesydney

said ages ago

I decided to make up my own higher power, one that loves me. I
asked her to go kick the fundamentalists; god in the arse but
she said she was busy doing her nails. *sigh*

Christian Taylor

said ages ago

cheyne67 - I would kill to see it! Yes!

GenesisInVain

said ages ago

ahh.. the day Christianity died on its ass, these
fundamentalists are quite radical but they have connections!
The thing I don't get them ost is that they devote all their
religious practice into hate, when the basis of Christianity is
love..

GenesisInVain

said ages ago

do they even practice other Christian values, rituals...and
blah..or is it all dedicated to hate. how fucked!

k-man

said ages ago

I don't want to go to heaven - boring. All my friend will be in
hell along with all the best parties - bring it on!

judes1974

said ages ago

If the whole thing wasn't so horrendous, it'd be kinda funny
and really pathetic. I know who'll be burning in hell and it's
not us....

gayogler

said ages ago

This hatred has been manifest for centuries. They become
concerned that their founder might, just might, have been
gay.They attempt to distort His words, His life, His
relationships-maybe they should just read His words learn and
understand.

PonyClub

said ages ago

they are clearly just covering up their love of their
neighbours kids

John W

said ages ago

I've got three words for you - Pastor Ted Haggard. Um-mar!

seasideboi

said ages ago

Amazing! We can only hope that if there really is a god that
when these people are called up for judgement they will realise
the error of their ways. Until then, there is no hope for
people like them.

Glenn

said ages ago

Shit what can one say these fuckers need a bullet right between
the eyes but what a waste of a bullet & time BUT then again we
allow them to get away with it by NOT challenging them we need
to really get into their faces if you need a leader pick me

Glenn

said ages ago

we sit back in our little comfort coccoons & allow this to go
unchallenged is it any wonder we are not progressing forward.
These maggots need educating & if it means getting into their
faces well then LETS DO IT. Any volunteers or will we let them
wn

Glenn

said ages ago

We cannot be proud & Gay & sit back & do nothing. They say
being gay is a sickness & we can be made well well I say they
are sick & brainwashed & need some educating. They say "God
loves us all" well Im one of all but I hey I dont care who
loves me

Glenn

said ages ago

All church leaders need to take a step backwards but not too
far back & see we have changed as a society. We do have rights
just as they do but we DONT shove it down their throats but
maybe thats what they are wanting wanting it shoved down their
neck

Glenn

said ages ago

Religion is the most hateful of organisations in the world.
They preach fear not love. They want it all but its out of
their reaches now. There are people who are awake to them with
all their hate & bile teachings. Maybe an anti church protest
will

DaddyWayne

said ages ago

Since when is hatred a family value. In Australia, John Howard
meets with and defends the Exclusive Brethen and they are just
as sinister and dangerous as these nutcases. May a just God
crash all their servers.

JustJames

said ages ago

I was in Officeworks today Stationary shopping (a fav pastime)
and I noticed the midday movie playing on 9, it was actually
the Matthew Shepard (the boy who was murdered) story....(TBC)

JustJames

said ages ago

I rushed home to watch what was left (not even knowing what it
was about cause I hadnt read Same Same yet) and I was an
emotional wreck by the end. A fantastic movie that all should
see.... (TBC)

JustJames

said ages ago

completely grounding and reminds us that homophobia, although
less prevalent, its still an issue that must be addressed. It
also made me think how important it is that the 'gay community'
(hate that phrase) really must (TBC)

JustJames

said ages ago

care for and protect one another, because without that, we are
all fighting individual battles. So just remember, next time
before you give that pretentious stare, that we are all one
'family,' and need to respect one another. Be it at the club
(TBC)

JustJames

said ages ago

or out in the real world. Okay I have used WAY too many
stereotypical sentences and phrases im about to throw up. But
I'm serious. Just watch out for one another :) xx Just James

kwickeemart

said ages ago

apparently being gay is a sin woo hoo ... but insest is
okay..... well we all came from adam and eve .... he he

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