[Chat] FW: Anti-Gay Hate Group to Demonstrate in Annapolis

Mon Jan 23 12:40:38 EST 2006

Personally, I'm not sure if it helps or hurts to have a strong turnout against these people -- it strikes me that it just gives them more press and more of a feeling of being persecuted for their beliefs, which seems to feed their fire.  But, in case you feel differently, I thought I should let you know what was going on.

  -- Crystal

  homewoodfriends <homewoodfriends at verizon.net> wrote: 
  Date: Mon, 23 Jan 2006 09:49:35 -0500
From: "homewoodfriends" <homewoodfriends at verizon.net>
Subject: FW: Anti-Gay Hate Group to Demonstrate in Annapolis
To: "homewoodfriends meeting" <homewoodfriends at verizon.net>

      As I understand it, this demonstration and the press conference Mike Keller is organizing to counter it will take place on Friday, January 27. 

  The background below comes from Wikipedia, an online user-edited encyclopedia. There is more on that site if you have the stomach for it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westboro_Baptist_Church_(Topeka)

  Westboro Baptist Church is an organisation based in Topeka, Kansas, headed by minister Fred Waldron Phelps, Sr. and notorious for running godhatesfags.com and other websites expressing its condemnation of various groups, (see "WBC Websites" below). Although its members identify themselves as Baptists, the church is not affiliated with any known Baptist conventions or associations (however, there are numerous independent Baptist churches throughout the United States that are unaffiliated with such groups). The church describes itself as following Primitive Baptist and Calvinist principles, though it has been accused by others of Hyper-Calvinism.[1]

  The group bases much of its work around the belief that "God hates fags", (its best known slogan and the address of its primary website), and expresses the opinion that nearly all tragedy in the world is somehow linked to homosexuality, (specifically society's increasing tolerance and acceptance of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people), whom they believe God hates above all other kinds of sinners.[2]

  The organization is monitored as a hate group by the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center.[3] Not only is Westboro opposed by supporters of gay rights, but the vast majority of Christian groups (even those who agree with Westboro that homosexuality is a sin) oppose Westboro's theology and practice, believing it to be incompatible with traditional Christian teachings.[4]

  David Penney

"Keller, Mike" <mkeller at mhec.state.md.us> wrote:   Subject: Anti-Gay Hate Group to Demonstrate in Annapolis
Date: Sat, 21 Jan 2006 18:34:30 -0500
From: "Keller, Mike" <mkeller at mhec.state.md.us>

Mayor Ellen Moyer has received a letter from her counterpart in Topeka, Kansas warning that a virulent anti-gay church plans to hold a demonstration in Annapolis at 12:30 p.m. this coming Friday. Rev. Rev. Fred Phelps and members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka have appeared recently at the funerals of military personnel who were killed in Iraq or Afghanistan and held signs in front of mourners associating the deaths with "God's punishment" on the United States for tolerating gays. Phelps and his supporters apparently plan to bring this message to the gates of the U.S. Naval Academy. The event appears on the church's web site. Phelps and his church have picketed the gay community at hundreds of events nationwide. At the funeral of gay murder victim Matthew Shepard, they held signs reading "No Fags in Heaven" and "God Hates Fags". The church believes that "God's hatred is one of His holy attributes".

The Mayor has passed the letter to me in my capacity of chair of the Annapolis Human Relations Commission. I believe strongly that a response is necessary, and I have the support of City officials. I would like to organize a press conference on Friday morning, prior to the scheduled demonstration, that consists of representatives from area clergy from different faiths for the purpose of denouncing these homophobes and calling for tolerance. 

I would like to have your help in identifying members of the clergy or leaders of congregations who would be willing to take part in a press conference on this subject. Please contact persons whom you think would be interested and either let me know the names of those who respond positively or ask them to get in touch with me right away either by e-mail or by phone (410-263-7409). Please do not just send me suggestions of possible press conference participants.

Thank you for any help you can provide in preparing for the possible appearance of this group. We cannot allow these bigots to spread their venom without a strong response from the community. 

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